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Firefighters vote to boycott Bush
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jay the Obscure: [QB] The firefighters have apparently changed their minds: [QUOTE]August 16, 2002 Firefighters Won't Boycott Memorial By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 4:50 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- The International Association of Fire Fighters plans to challenge President Bush's decision to withhold money that would help fire departments, but will not boycott the annual memorial service for fallen firefighters, the union's president said Friday. ``We would never ever boycott any of the memorials that are going to honor my members,'' general president Harold Schaitberger said by phone after the union convention adjourned Friday. ``There is nothing this union will do to bring any kind of dishonor or disrespect to the events that are going to be a celebration of their service and sacrifice.'' The union voted during its Las Vegas assembly to ask Schaitberger to formally protest Bush's decision to withhold $5.1 billion in anti-terrorism funds. The options included boycotting the annual service in memory of fallen firefighters, scheduled for Oct. 6 in Washington. Bush has been invited to speak at the event. Schaitberger rejected any thoughts of staying away from the ceremony. In New York, 343 firefighters lost their lives when terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center Sept. 11. Bush said Friday he had a strong commitment to firefighters, but needed to cut federal spending. ``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,'' Bush said. The withheld funds included $100 million for improvements to communications systems for firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel. Rescue workers' efforts 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. Schaitberger said the union planned to push Congress to include the money in the spending bills for the federal fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. He said he planned to write a letter of protest to Bush, and would return the videotaped message Bush sent to the firefighters. ``We will find the appropriate venue to vent our anger and show our protest,'' Schaitberger said. The union, which represents 255,000 firefighters, has given almost $2 million to federal candidates since Jan. 1, 1999, with more than 80 percent going to Democrats.[/QUOTE][URL=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Bush-Firefighters.html]Article[/URL]. [/QB][/QUOTE]
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