Obama Proposes Significant AFG and PSOB Funding Cuts, Increase in SAFER

[Bnechis 3,961]

"The Obama administration wants to cut almost in half a benefits program for the families of slain police, firefighters & public safety officers.

The president’s proposed budget calls for cutting the Public Safety Officers’ Death Benefits Program from $110 million to $60 million.

The Justice Department insisted no one would lose benefits.

The Administration has proposed funding the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program at double the level it was funded in FY2009, but funding the popular FIRE grant program at only $170 million - a cut of nearly 70% from Fiscal Year 2009.........."

http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/top...significant-afg

[Guest]

The PSOB program is a 'mandatory funding' program, so that really isn't an issue...If they need more money, they get the money, no questions asked. However, thinking that its a good idea to cut funding for the equipment that would be used by the staff funded by the SAFER grants is beyond me.

[ajsbear 11]

How about we propose every elected official take a 15% pay cut.

[ny10570 745]

One of the knocks against the Fire Act grants is that they often don't go towards equipment used in day to day operations. Depts use it for the specialty equipment. SAFER grants have a direct and immediate effect on both the community the dept protects and it gets people employed.

[helicopper 1,050]

How about we propose every elected official take a 15% pay cut.

Or reduce their pensions and have them pay for their healthcare coverage after retirement!

[ajsbear 11]

Or reduce their pensions and have them pay for their healthcare coverage after retirement!

How about reduce their retirement to Social security wages?

[Guest Local596Secretary]

The statement below comes directly from the International Association of Firefighters.

A May 7 FOX News report suggesting that that the Obama budget proposal for FY 2010 cuts spending on the Public Safety Officers Benefit Act (PSOB) from $110 million to $60 million is misguided and inaccurate.

The PSOB (Hometown Heroes) program is an entitlement program, which means that 100 percent of benefits must be paid by law to every family that qualifies. The “cut” that FOX News is reporting is an estimate of what the program will pay out and is based on the predicted number of line-of-duty death claims.

“There has been no cut to the PSOB program,” states IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “The families of fire fighters who die in the line of duty will receive the full benefit. Whether there are half as many deaths or three times as many deaths, all claims will be paid.”

In 1976, following nearly eight years of lobbying, the IAFF succeeded in persuading President Gerald Ford to sign the original bill, which at that time provided a death benefit of $50,000. Since then, the IAFF has been the principal author of every amendment to the act affecting members’ coverage and benefit amounts.

As a result of these efforts, benefit amounts doubled after September 11 and are now adjusted annually. In 2003, the IAFF succeeded in expanding coverage to include heart attacks and strokes. The benefit is now $315,746 as of October 1, 2008.

“It has been a long and sometimes frustrating journey, with attempts to water down or shelf the legislation and to propose amendments that would have made it ineffective,” says Schaitberger. “We put these benefits in place so that if one of our members makes that ultimate sacrifice, the family doesn’t have to worry -- the benefit will be paid.”

[SageVigiles 1,194]

So much for Joe Biden's speech at CFSI about how the Obama administration will do whatever is necessary to support firefighters, eh?

[Raz 14]

One of the knocks against the Fire Act grants is that they often don't go towards equipment used in day to day operations. Depts use it for the specialty equipment. SAFER grants have a direct and immediate effect on both the community the dept protects and it gets people employed.

That isn't exactly true. I don't want to open the same can of worms as last time, but you can do a forum search for SAFER grants and see what I mean.