|
Sorry this has taken so long. It got lost in cyberspace for a bit...
IAFF
LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
HYATT REGENCY HOTEL
WASHINGTON, D. C.
MARCH 14-17, 2004
The conference started out as usual with everyone arriving at the conference center Sunday afternoon, getting registered and picking up their information materials. Hooking up with old contacts like Joe from Philly and Denny from Letterkenny, and creating new ones like Karl from Fort Drum.
Monday’s session got off to a slow start due to the special screening conducted by the Secret Service in anticipation of a visit by presidential hopeful Senator John Kerry. Upon his arrival Senator Kerry gave us a rousing and very inspiring speech. We were fortunate enough to be up front as he departed and were able to “press the flesh” with the Senator. We then heard opening remarks from the IAFF General President, Harold Schaitberger; Secretary-Treasurer Vincent Bollon; Assistant to the President, Kevin O’Connor; and a conference overview by Barry Kasinitz, Director of Governmental affairs. President Schaitberger announced that we had a record number of registrations this year as well as having our best year in getting legislative results. Passage of the SAFER Act, expansion of PSOB (Public Safety Officers Benefit, Hometown Heroes Act). He pointed out that our top priorities for the coming year were Collective Bargaining and IFLSA over/time. On the humorous side, the look on Brother Berry’s face when he realized he was sitting next to President Emeritus Alfred K. Whitehead, whom this conference is named after.
The rest of the morning and afternoon was taken up by remarks from various guest speakers interspersed with briefings on the various issues facing us.
Collective Bargaining: The PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT (H.R. 814 and S. 606). Allows public safety officers to negotiate work hours and wages, etc. Comments were heard from the Honorable Bart Peterson, Mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana. Key points: if it works in one place, why not others? Support those who support us.
Taxation of Internet Sales: STREAMLINED SALES and USE TAX AGREEMENT H.R. 3184 and S. 1736). Allows states to collect a sales tax on purchases made over the Internet. Comments were heard from the Honorable Jim McGreevey, Governor of New Jersey. Key points; we need resources to battle terrorism at home, and Bush keeps cutting funding for the SAFER ACT.
Reauthorization of the Fire Act: ASSISTANCE to FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM (legislation being drafted). Make funds available to different departments to improve their resources or increase manning. Comments were heard from C. Suzanne Mencer, Director Office for Domestic Preparedness Department of Homeland Security. Unimpassioned and boring!
Funding for SAFER: STAFFING for ADEQUATE FIRE and EMERGENCY RESPONSE FIREFIGHTERS ACT of 2003 (passed by Congress last year, funding to be considered as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations bill) Comments were heard from Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland. Key points were that President Bush is continually cutting or attempting to cut the authorized funding for SAFER. Bush gave tax cuts that amounted to 45 billion dollars to the top 1% of the taxpayers while all firefighter issues combined are only requesting 1.9 billion.
We were supposed to have a briefing on Federal Fire Fighter Presumptive Disability: FEDERAL FIRE FIGHTERS FAIRNESS ACT (H.R. 1101 and S. 530), with comments from Congressman Ciro Rodriguez of Texas. However, this was preempted by the rapid movement of the National Security Personnel System. Barry Kasinitz then apprised our brothers
of the predicament we are facing. Reactions were mostly stunning disbelief.
Other speakers were Jim Carville, moderator-commentator-debater on the nationally syndicated program CROSSFIRE and Congressman Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania. Jim was very funny and made some very thought provoking comments. Congressman Weldon commented that the lives of firefighters were just as valuable as those in the military overseas and that we need the necessary funding. He stated that our legislators must listen to us. After the general session, all delegates from the 16th District (Federal) met with our V.P. Jimmy Johnson to discuss pertinent issues.
Tuesday morning the International provided breakfast before everyone went out to meet with their legislators. We met with delegates from the Washington State council of Fire Fighters and coordinated our efforts with them. We did something a little different this year. Whereas in the past we concentrated on meeting with the legislators whose districts we worked in, this year we met with ALL of our State Representatives. I met with Congressman Brian Baird who has been our staunchest supporter thus far. I thanked him on behalf of the Local for his cosponsoring of H.R. 1101 and he was very supportive of our concerns regarding NSPS. When we went to meet with Congressman Nethercutt (campaigning for Governor), we were met in the hallway by one of his aides as he had another appointment at the same time. Congressman Hastings was “running late” so we met with his legislative aide. She seemed genuinely concerned about our issues and stated that the staff would look into them further. I won’t go into the other meetings as the other delegates are reporting them on.
Tuesday evening there were two events happening, a Congressional Reception hosted by the International and an informal dinner hosted by the WSCFF. I think someone managed to attend both.
Wednesday was breakfast and a follow up session with IAFF Staff. Speakers were Kurt Rumsfeld, IAFF Legal Director, and Barry Kasinitz. Barry explained the process by which Senator Kerry was chosen to receive our support and why we jumped on the bandwagon so early in the campaign. Apparently there were some questions raised on this last point. There were also more meetings with a couple of our legislators.
Overall, this was probably our best and most effective Legislative Conference. Everyone worked hard and conducted themselves in a professional manner as usual. One thing that did come out after this conference is that we may have to expand our sphere of influence. By this I mean that we will have to reach out to states that do not have military or DoD installations and attempt to gather the support of their legislators as well as our own.
In closing, I would like to encourage the Local to continue their support in sending delegates to this conference. I would also like to recommend to the Executive Board that they reactivate the PAC Fund. I would encourage every member to consider donating at least $1 every payday (about 1 beer a month) to help the International fight our battles such as the NSPS. Remember that none of this goes to the PAC Committee. Money for the Legislative Conference is already allocated in the Local’s Budget.
Respectfully submitted,
Ron “Breezy” Brister
Chairman
Political Action Committee
IAFF Local F282
Addendum: Prior to the Legislative Conference, there were 9 co-sponsors of H.R. 1101. As of Monday morning 3/28/04, co-sponsorship has increased to 29. This includes Congressmen Larsen and McDermott to go along with Congressman Baird. No improvement on the Senate side.
Download:
LEG CONF 2004.doc
|
