NEW YORK (AP) -- Gov. George Pataki vetoed a bill Friday that would have provided greater retirement benefits for thousands of emergency workers who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack.
Pataki said it was too expensive, costing the city and state as much as $260 million a year. The bill's supporters had said the cost would be $5 million a year.
The legislation would have created a presumption that a number of injuries and illnesses were job-related for the firefighters, police officers and other workers who helped the rescue and recovery efforts. That presumption would have entitled the workers to disability pensions, which are higher than regular pensions.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg had opposed the measure, saying it covered a ``virtually infinite'' list of illnesses, even if years passed before the ailment developed.
Injuries and illnesses that would have been presumed to be work-related under the legislation included asthma, acid reflux disease, lower back pain, dermatitis, cancer and pulmonary disease.
The Patrolman's Benefit Association was a major proponent of the bill.
``The governor and the mayor said they would never forget the sacrifice and work of the emergency service people on 9-11,'' said Patrick Lynch, the association's president. ``But apparently they have, it's disgraceful.''
Association spokesman Al O'Leary said the group would consider retooling the legislation, and Pataki said he is willing to listen.
``I encourage the sponsors and supporters of this legislation, the city and other interested parties to correct the defects in this bill,'' he said.
