The International Association of Firefighters blasts Bush

Discussion in 'Politics & Current Events' started by GringoTex, Aug 16, 2002.

  1. GringoTex

    GringoTex Member

    Aug 22, 2001
    1301 miles de Texas
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/11353p-10746c.html

    WASHINGTON - The International Association of Firefighters caused a furor yesterday by voting unanimously to consider boycotting President Bush's October speech honoring the 343 FDNY personnel who died in New York.

    The umbrella group for the nation's firefighter unions is furious that Bush cut $340 million in funding last week, some of which would have improved outdated radio equipment - a key reason so many firefighters didn't hear warnings to get out of the twin towers Sept. 11.

    Bush said he killed the spending bill because he opposed unrelated funding added by the Senate and said he would sign a stripped-down bill.

    Among the included items he repeatedly ridiculed was $2 million to the Smithsonian Institution for a new building "to house worms and bugs."

    But the Smithsonian says the specimen collection - currently preserved in 730,000 gallons of highly flammable alcohol blocks from the White House - must be moved. Members of both parties support the move, and Bush's own budget had requested it.
     
  2. TheWakeUpBomb

    TheWakeUpBomb Member

    Mar 2, 2000
    New York, NY
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Excuse me, but wasn't this a Homeland Security bill? So Bush vetoed it because of all the pork. Isn't that a good thing?

    You'll forgive me if I don't see it as shocking that a union comes out against something a Republican does.
     
  3. Colin Grabow

    Colin Grabow New Member

    Jul 22, 1999
    Washington, DC
    Why is the federal government buying firefighting equipment for NYC in the first place? Isn't that NYC's responsibility?

    For anyone who ever wonders why Washington can never hold the line on spending, this is instructive. Also if you missed it Bush has been slammed by veterans for some money in that bill that was due to go to VA hospitals.

    All in all this makes a great case for a line-item veto.
     
  4. GringoTex

    GringoTex Member

    Aug 22, 2001
    1301 miles de Texas
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    I was all for the veto. But the one example he points out happens to be the one item of pork that his own administration called for. He or someone in his administration thought the "to house worms and bugs" remark would be cute, but they didn't check their facts first.

    It will also be interesting to see how much power the firefighetrs union has now after their post 9-11 superhero status.
     

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