WASHINGTON POST ––8/16/02
The International Association of Fire Fighters is
considering boycotting the annual national memorial service for fallen firefighters to
protest President Bush's decision to withhold money that would help fire departments.
Bush said Friday he had a strong commitment to firefighters, but needed to cut federal
spending."What they ought to be upset about is the fact that Congress tried to tie my
hands," Bush said. "They said, 'You've got to spend $5 billion or none of the $5 billion.'
And I chose not to spend the $5 billion because, one, we didn't need to and, two, it is
important for this country to be fiscally disciplined as our economy begins to recover."
The president withheld $5.1 billion, including $100 million for improvements to
communications systems for firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel.
Rescue workers' efforts on Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center were hindered because the
agencies' radios could not communicate with each other.
Bush also blocked $90 million for long-term health monitoring of emergency workers at
Ground Zero and $150 million for equipment and training grants to fire departments.
A sponsor of legislation creating the grant program, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.,
asked Bush Friday to reconsider his decision.
"Our nation's firefighters play a critical role in ensuring homeland security, and your
decision to block the release of these funds – while applications are still pending – is, in
my view, misguided," Dodd wrote to Bush.
At its convention in Las Vegas earlier this week, the union voted to ask its president to
formally protest Bush's decision. Among the options: Boycotting the annual service in
memory of fallen firefighters, scheduled for Oct. 6 in Washington. Bush has been invited to
speak at the event.
"I did get the message loud and clear," said Harold Schaitberger, the union's general
president. "My members are angry about this veto and they do not want to let the president
use their image for his political benefit any longer. This veto is a slap in the face to every
firefighter across this country."
Other options include writing a letter to the White House, lobbying Congress to override
Bush's decision, or holding a protest in Washington.
Delegates to the convention also voted to return Bush's videotaped message to the
meeting.
"Don't lionize our fallen brothers in one breath, and then stab us in the back by eliminating
funding for our members to fight terrorism and stay safe," Schaitberger said. "President
Bush, you are either with us or against us. You can't have it both ways."
