November 2: It’s Your Decision

When you pull that curtain closed on November 2, you will be participating in the most important election in a generation.

As individuals, we all use different criteria to determine who we support. Just like I will on Election Day, each one of you will make your own value judgments about the candidates and the issues that are important to you.

As a union, we respect your right to vote for the candidate of your ownchoosing. You have earned that right as a citizen of this great country and as a participant in our unique electoral process.

To help you understand what’s at stake in this campaign when it comes to fire, economic and employment issues, the IAFF has made decisions on the basis of the candidates’ records on those subjects. We do not, however, look at other vital issues that may be part of your personal decision-making process, and we respect your right to form your own opinion.

On the basis of their records on the fire service, the economy and jobs, we have stated in this magazine over the past 10 months, and on the Internet, through the media and in other forums that John Kerry has shown more leadership than any other candidate.

But as much as history must be a guide in this election, each candidate’s plan for the future is also vital. On page 19 of this edition of International Fire Fighter, we provide a comparison of the two candidates’ plans for our members’ future.

What you will see is a stark difference in the policies of John Kerry and George W. Bush.

The two competing parts of their plans that jump out most are the candidates’ positions on future funding of the FIRE Act and the SAFER Act.

George Bush earlier this year announced his plan to cut homeland security funding in 2005 by $700 million, and an additional $250 million in 2006. He also announced that he would cut FIRE Act funding by 33 percent next year. And that he absolutely opposes any federal dollars for the SAFER Act.

John Kerry supports increasing funding for homeland security priorities, including an increase in FIRE Act funding and full funding of the SAFER Act to allow our communities to hire the 75,000 fire fighters we so desperately need. He also has made it clear that he will work to get our collective bargaining bill passed, and once passed he’ll sign it immediately, giving 60,000 of our members in the 19 states that don’t have it now the right to negotiate a contract and the chance to improve on their current circumstances on the job.

Another major concern for the future is whether we will continue to see all of the staffing cuts, station closings and negotiations over health care cost shifting that our locals are facing every day.

The problems municipalities are facing are a direct result of President Bush’s failure in this regard to appropriately address the needs of working people in our economy.

When Bush made his tax cuts, 90 percent of those cuts went to the richest 1 percent in this country. And when the bill came due to pay for his tax cuts, cities, counties and towns across the nation began receiving fewer federal dollars, and our nation’s surplus three years ago has become the largest deficit in history.

The result of fewer federal dollars, combined with the continued sluggishness of our economy and job and industry loss pressures, has been that many municipalities are in the midst of budget crises.

To cut costs, mayors and city managers from the Northeast clear across to the Southwest are focusing on reducing the number of fire fighters, apparatus, and training requirements. Many are also seeking cutbacks, lower raises that don’t allow our members to keep up with the pace of rising inflation while being asked to pay more of their health insurance premiums and raising other out-of-pocket costs.

I believe our country needs a new direction. And John Kerry has the plan that will benefit fire fighters and our economy the most in the future. Please read the comparison in this edition of International Fire Fighter and look for more detailed information and candidate comparisons to arrive in your mailbox in the coming weeks.

And above all, no matter who you decide to support this election, be sure to vote on November 2.

Click Here to Read President Schaitberger's Past Messages

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