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Bush's Failure to Support Fire Fighters and First Responders Laid Out Clearly at Fire Fighters Legilative Conference

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News Release from the International Association of Fire Fighters

WASHINGTON, DC -- International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, General President Harold Schaitberger told a crowd of more than 800 professional fire fighters from across the nation today that the fire fighters’ union tried to work with President Bush on proper funding of homeland security needs that have forced fire stations to close, two-thirds of America’s fire departments to operate under-staffed, $250 million cuts in the FIRE Act grant program that helps fire departments fund equipment needs, and hundreds of millions of dollars in other reductions in programs for first responders, but President Bush failed to act. Schaitberger said:

“…In looking ahead at this November's critical election, it's important for each of you, for all of our members -- and for that matter for everyone -- to know that the IAFF tried to work with George W. Bush early on.

“Shortly after that horrific day on 9/11 I sat in the White House mess and told Karl Rove, then White House Political Director Ken Mehlman, and Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin, that we wanted to work with the Administration.

“We provided information on first responder needs. We told them about staffing deficiencies. We justified increased FIRE Act funding. Ironically, since that meeting, three independent studies -- even ones led by Republicans -- have all verified and supported our contentions.

I followed up with then FEMA Director Joe Albaugh and met several times with Tom Ridge in the fall of 2001. Long before there was a Department of Homeland Security and before he was the Secretary. But our overtures were generally spurned. And our suggestions disregarded.

They wanted to federalize, and nationalize homeland security. And we agreed. But they wouldn't agree to provide help for our communities. They considered the hiring of more fire fighters to be a local matter. And we said, “Hell No.”

The fact is, George Bush's record on OUR homeland security issues is so poor that Time Magazine this morning is reporting that he has ordered his Homeland Security Department staff to take time away from their duties to find opportunities to "pose" George Bush in "photo-ops" on homeland security issues. We need a president who is gives us action, not photo-ops.”

To read the full text of President Schaitberger’s statement visit http://www.iaff.org.

The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, is the 16th largest union among the 64 national unions that makeup the AFL-CIO. The IAFF represents more than 263,000 full-time professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who protect 80 percent of the nation’s population. More than 2,900 affiliates and their members protect nearly 6,000 communities in Canada and every state in the U.S.

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