New York Fire Fighter Locals Overwhelmingly Endorse JOHN KERRY For Preside

[midwayer]

George Bush failed to direct homeland security funding after 9/11 to high-threat areas, leading to an unexplainable discrepancy in homeland security funding of $5.42 per capita in New York, versus $37.94 for Wyoming in 2003. Bush also opposed funding the Fire Act, and in fact had to be forced by Congress to provide any funding in its first two years, which provides local fire departments with the resources they need. He continues to oppose a program, which would add fire fighters in two-thirds of communities across the country that have an inadequate number of fire fighters. His 2005 budget cuts homeland security funding for first responders by $700 million from current levels, and Bush actively opposes collective bargaining rights for all fire fighters. And when it comes to all workers, our country’s lost over 2 million jobs, including thousands of hi-tech jobs from New York, which have been sent overseas, health care costs are up, and fewer people are covered.

Compare that to John Kerry’s over 20-year record of supporting first responders. He authored the Father Mychal Judge Act to hire 100,000 fire fighters. John Kerry is an original co-sponsor of our national collective bargaining bill, he co-sponsored the establishment of the FIRE Act and has supported fully funding the program, year after year, even as George W. Bush zeroed out the program.


http://www.firefightersforkerry.com/campaign/story_72.php