Jon Stewart's shaming campaign gets McConnell to promise passage of 9/11 responders bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) promised that a health care bill covering 9/11 first responders would be renewed in the wake of being criticized by former Daily Show host Jon Stewart, Politico reported.

"Everybody was for it," McConnell said. "This is a worthwhile cause and we’ll take care of it."

Stewart has spent most of the past week accusing McConnell of being the primary obstacle behind the renewal of the Zadroga Act, which covers medical expenses for New York City police and firefighters who responded to the attacks, going so far as to say that the senator reneged on a promise to include the proposal as part of a measure funding highway infrastructure.

The comedian made the allegations during an appearance in Washington D.C. late last week, as well as guest spots on both his former show and Stephen Colbert's Late Show.

McConnell said Stewart's allegations were "not true," arguing that the bill would be renewed before Congress leaves for its holiday break.

"We're certainly going to finish, both that and the tax bill," he said. "All of those discussions are continuing."