New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg says Jon Stewart, among others, are to thank for the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. In a statement after the bill passed last night, Bloomberg said, “We would not be where we are today without the hard work of so many others who are too many to name, but include Representatives Maloney, King, and Nadler; responders, survivors, and their family members; labor and civic leaders; and great New Yorkers like Rudy Giuliani and Jon Stewart.”

Stewart’s entire final show of the year, which aired last Thursday, was dedicated to the bill. He first mocked the media for their lack of coverage. He then followed with a panel of 9/11 first responders, and topped it off with an interview with supporter of the bill and FNC host Mike Huckabee. Most of the show was spent attacking Congressional republicans who opposed of cost of the bill.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs also credited Stewart. “If there’s the ability for that to sort of break through in our political environment, there’s a good chance that he can help do that,” Gibbs told reporters Tuesday. “I think he has put the awareness around this legislation. He’s put that awareness into what you guys cover each day, and I think that’s good.”

Gibbs’ statement didn’t sit well with the hosts of “Fox & Friends” who are adamant that it was their colleague who really was the impetus behind the act being passed.

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Growing up in South Florida, I should have known I would someday end up somehow involved in TV news. For better or worse, the state of Florida — and in particular the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale market — has had maybe the biggest impact on the television news industry outside New York and LA.

For one, the number of major national anchors who did stints in South Florida will astound you. CNN’s Larry King and “60 Minutes” correspondent Steve Kroft both did stints at WPLG very early in their careers. King also once worked at current NBC O&O WTVJ, where Katie Couric would later be a general assignment reporter.

“Get this,” says current-HLN anchor and former Miami anchor/health reporter Robin Meade. “When I was at WSVN in 1994-ish, I did the mornings. Rick Sanchez was the main anchor at the station. Shepherd Smith was a street reporter for the same channel. Linda Stouffer (former HLN anchor) was the weekend morning anchor. And Charles Molineaux (former HLN anchor) was my co-anchor in the morning. Soon after I left, I believe Shawn Robinson started doing the mornings there before heading to access Hollywood.”

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