June 8, 2012 – This week, the IAFF Executive Board considered
the records and positions of the candidates competing for the most powerful
elected position in the world and unanimously concluded that the choice of the
next president of the United States is clear because of the stark contrasts
between the candidates. The IAFF has endorsed President Barack Obama and Vice
President Joe Biden.
On one hand, the current, sitting president and vice president have consistently
shown their commitment with critical and increasing funding for programs that
have kept thousands of fire fighters and paramedics on the job, and provided the
equipment they need to protect their communities during some of the toughest
economic times our country and jurisdictions across the United States have ever
experienced.
On the other hand, Mitt Romney, as governor of Massachusetts, repeatedly
attempted to cut local aid to communities, jeopardizing public safety. He also
attempted to strip away the collective bargaining rights of fire fighters in the
state and has repeatedly stated that he opposes and would zero-out the federal
grant programs that provide critical funding to communities to keep fire
fighters working and for life-saving equipment and apparatus.
Romney says cut fire fighters, police and teachers
"The simple fact is, over the past two years IAFF members have been literally
assaulted – their rights attacked, their standard of living attacked, their
retirement after a career serving their community attacked – and those assaults
have been launched at every level by people who say the same things, promote the
same policies and have similar records in public office as Mitt Romney," says
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.
In March, the IAFF joined with the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI)
to produce and broadcast an
ad highlighting Mitt Romney’s opposition to critical public safety programs,
which ran during the Illinois primary.
Over the coming weeks, the IAFF will be providing affiliates with information on
the positions of the candidates on public safety and issues supporting people
who work for a living.
