I know you are but what am I?
Via Bubba, We must combat politicizing of 9/11 by, uhm, politicizing 9/11:
“The fact is Bush’s actions have resulted in fire stations closing in communities around the country. Two-thirds of America’s fire departments remain under-staffed because Bush is failing to enforce a new law that was passed with bipartisan support in Congress that would put more fire fighters in our communities. President Bush’s budget proposes to cut Homeland Security Department funding for first responders by $700 million for next year and cuts funding for the FIRE Act, a grant program that helps fire departments fund equipment needs, 33% by $250 million. In addition, state and local programs for homeland security purposes were reduced $200 million.”
So says a union guy. I could buy the criticism if the ads were particularly exploitive. They’re not.
Politics as usual.
Update: Per this:
The budget, however, reduces funding for other grant programs, such as Citizen Corps, Fire Act Grants, state and local training initiatives, training exercises and technical assistance. Overall, the amount of grant funding available to state and local governments decreases by $805 million from fiscal year 2004.
Ridge said the reduction in funding for first responders is justified because the government has provided $8 billion in grants since March 1, 2003. He said the amount of funding that has gone to first responders during the last two fiscal years is 900 percent greater than funding in fiscal 1999, 2000 and 2001.
So, we up the funding by a lot after 9/11 then cut it after two years. That seems about right since I can assume that the initial funding increases likely paid for some needed equipment that you don’t need to purchase every year.
Via Jay.
March 5th, 2004 at 12:54 pm
So why is it the responsibility of the federal government to fund local fire stations? Why can’t the states, or, God forbid, the communities themselves support these stations? Why does the solution to every problem have to be a check from Uncle Sugar?
March 5th, 2004 at 1:22 pm
I don’t see how anyone can just forget that 9-11 happened and not mention it in a political campaign. Should FDR not have used the then slowly successful prosecution of the war in 1944 for his re-election bid?
March 5th, 2004 at 3:50 pm
Not only is Harold Schaitberger a union guy, he’s co-chair of the Kerry for President campaign. Link.
Factoid I heard the other night: 80% of the nation’s fire departments are volunteer. Volunteer means non-unionized, so the firefighters union speaks for a minority of firefighters.
Totally agree, Thib. Firefighting is a local issue. I write a check every year to the Blount County Fire Protection District.
March 5th, 2004 at 4:08 pm
I write checks every year to my local guys, too, and I suspect they need them more than ever, since over 400 jobs have left our community in the last 3 years, prohibiting those folks from being able to afford such ‘extras.’
Wow, Uncle, it’s so attractive to trash firefighters, er…only the union ones, that is.
Like the one being carried off the rubble, you know, the one in Bush’s ad. Yeah, that one. (And his other fallen brothers).
March 5th, 2004 at 4:13 pm
Who trashed firefighters? I trashed a guy who politicizied his wish list because he objects to bush’s use of those images.
March 5th, 2004 at 4:29 pm
I think he objects to firefighters’ not being given nearly enough $ for the training and equipment they need, locally and nationally. And what can possibly be wrong with giving these people everything they need?
If I’m being rescued from a burning building I’m not going to ask to see the guy’s union card before I decide if he’s a hero or not. I’m not suggesting you would either, Uncle, but who’s politicizing what, when the new mantra from the right about union-firefighers-as-supporters-of Kerry-and-therefore-somehow-lesser-firefighters, (or firefighters without legitimate gripes about funding) is being used to distract people from the utter obscenity of the images of one their own, fallen that day, to re-elect a man to political office? Shameful stuff, sorry.
March 5th, 2004 at 4:32 pm
And it’s shameful to use this opportunity to fund other agendas as well.
March 5th, 2004 at 4:44 pm
Like helping to raise money for his presidential candidate of choice? Oh. 🙂