Bush Recommends Cutting FIRE Act; Project Impact

[webteam]

Discuss the latest development and intial reaction to news that President Bush wishes to cut the FIRE Act and FEMA projects....

President Bush: Cut FIRE Act, Project Impact http://www.firehouse.com/news/2001/2/28_funding.html

President George W. Bush is calling for discontinued funding of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act and abolishing FEMA’s Project Impact in an early outline of his 2002 federal budget proposal.

[daysleeper47]

This one goes out to all you people that were supporting Bush back before the election when we had that big thread going...you may have won on November 7, but now you, and everyone else, lose.

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Joe
Daysleeper47
"When the bell goes ding-ding, its time to get on the woo-woo."
"Dusting desire - starting to learn. Walking through fire with out a burn..."
Youngstown Fire Department

[neal]

I didn't vote for the man. I didn't trust him before an I still don't.

[fireman phil]

I wonder what if he will touch the billions that they dish out to the law enforement community. My guess is NOT. We all to to unite on this one. This mentality from our nations captitol scares the crap out of me

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Fireman Phil of the Show Me State

[efdtower1dr]

What a bunch of bunk! Just goes to show you where the police will get their funding for in the future--and at the fire service's expense. Who do people call when no one else will come--that's right, they call the FIRE DEPARTMENT. We'll still be there--we'll just be creative like we have done so many times before. Implement, Adapt and Overcome. Just like the old saying goes: "We've done so much for so long with so little; next we'll be able to do anything with nothing. I wonder what all those people who voted for Bush are thinking now.

[Dalmatian90]

Goodness forbid you have to work with your local politicians on a predominantly local problem. Gosh, that would take developing leadership skills to influence public opinion to put pressure on the local pols.

Funding local fire protection equipment & personnel isn't a federal responsibility. Funding law enforcement is only marginally more so since has more of an impact on interstate commerce. Plus they've developed a good PR program.

Oh, and playing politics probably doesn't help. What was the first union to endorse Gore anyway? Guess what folks...still don't have the public visibility to withstand political payback. But maybe that PR would come from working locally...

[Flameout]

It really is a damn shame that the fire service, which is just as important or even more so than our police services, has to take a back seat when it comes to supplemental funding from the federal government! When a few hundred million dollars has to be cut from the budget for the fire service, rather than from the billions that have been funneled to police departments around the country, it really shows were the fire service stands! The FIRE ACT was a long time coming and we shouldn't let it go down without a fight!

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[Darrell G. White]

IT'S REALLY A SHAME POLITICS PLAY SO MUCH ON THE LIVES OF OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE FIRE SERVICES. STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS. DON'T LET THEM FORGET WHO IS CALLED OUT FIRST IN REAL EMERGENCIES.

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Chiefd900

[SRVFD2]

Thumbs up to Darrell's comment. I know how hard our Congressman worked toward getting this passed, and he shares the president's party. I will be in touch with him- even though I have yet to be convinced that our little dept.would ever be able to benefit from the FIRE act anyway! Dalmation 90, I have to agree with you!

[CollegeBuff]

Well said Matt.

(btw, did you get my email?)

[hazmat961]

As fireman phil said, the fire service should unite on this. This will affect everyone, paid and volunteer, in one way or another. I think that people take us for granted. They call us and we show up. What if they called and we didn't come? They would be on every politician and elected official that they could get thier hands on.
Not to sound harsh, what if we went away? President Bush's house stands the same chance of burning as does the guy's home that scrubs the Bush's bathroom. What if DCFD Engine 16 didn't come? Well?? They need to start putting more money in to funding the fire service and less in thier pockets!!!! If it wasn't bad enough for the local and state to cut funding, now the Feds have joined them too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hazmat 961

These opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my department.

[neman]

Its a Shame to lose all that money for so many programs. It's just a shame that IAFF was so supportive and vocal for a Candidate as week as Al Gore. I Hope that our President can understand that not all Voting members of the IAFF supported Gore. I don't see how Bush could make such a drastic decision towards all Fire service personnel. Volunteers Don't vote in IAFF elections. They shouldn't be punished for the IAFF's decisions. I urge you to contact your local politicians, to have your voice heard.

"Stay Low, and go Slow"

[axman]

Originally posted by daysleeper47:
This one goes out to all you people that were supporting Bush back before the election when we had that big thread going...you may have won on November 7, but now you, and everyone else, lose.

daysleeper47, I thought that you of all people wouldn't Judge a President just because he is a Republican, you talk a lot about Youngstown but have you really taken a good look at what the Democrats have done for your own town, most of your officials are in jail or are being investigated for corruption, you should give President bush some time, Hopefully we can all come together to make him understand how Important this Funding was for our country and were not going to be able to do this if we make this out to be a Republican VS Democrat issue.



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STAY SAFE ALL OF MY BROTHERS.

[FAM]

Good for the President. You have to begin cutting somewhere! It shouldn't be a government project to fund local fire issues. Remember as you hammer the president that you asked for 5 billion and were happy with 100 million.

The insurance industry should be funding fire protection like it does in three states and their dollar numbers exceed this 100 million proposal. What is more the $2300 per fire department if divided equally was a joke to begin with, especially with up to $500,000 allowed to individual FD's.

[SBFire333]

What a kick in the nuts as far as I am concerned......Lets not give this one without a fight. With all the time spent on getting this far lets not make it for nothing.....See you should of voted for Gore

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The opinions and views expressed herin are solely mine and not on the behalf of the organization I belong to.