Political Director's Posts for 3/2009

HB 679

3/31/2009 5:25:12 PM

Finally get to post good news. HB 679, elimination of DB plans, and all employees convert to a DC plan. Was tabled in committee yesterday. Standby for more news.

Bearing Bad News

3/24/2009 4:30:34 PM

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but HB 408 went down in flames yesterday. As Miles City was burning, and our members, as well as their mutual aid partners, were being exposed to countless hazards House Appropriations was shooting down our Legislation.

It didn't go down on a tie vote this time, " IT WENT DOWN FASTER THAN A GROUPIE WITH A BACK STAGE PASS". We did have some friends who stayed with us, and at a later time we will explain to you who they were, and we will also discuss with you those who felt that they couldn't support their Fire Fighter's. It's been a couple of disappointing days around here, but we will take the high road and ultimately we will prevail, just not this time.

I will make you a personal promise today, so maybe print it out and keep it in your possession. From today forward and everyday until the 2011 Legislative session I will work on perfecting our bill, addressing the concerns of our opponents, and I WILL educate legislators and candidates for the Legislature. I WILL remind current Legislators that at the end of all Legislatures this year, that our great labor state will probably only be one of 3 or 4 states with no Presumptive Legislation for their Fire Fighter's.

If any of our members contract any of the illnesses defined in HB 408 during the interim and are denied, please get ahold of me. I will walk with them through the process step by step, and I will use everybody in my contacts to assist them.

There is still work to be done here, but obviously if you have followed any prior blogs and e-mails, our work load has been lessened drastically. So I will be going back to Great Falls and riding the BRT more often, and you know what, it be alot more fun. So what do we still have going? We have to assist in killing LC 1137, we are still assisting Butte in passing HB 608, still seeking money for the fire service in the Stimulus $$$, are assisting with retirement legislation, HB 362 disaster medicine, etc...

Going to close for now, as always, if you have any questions or needs, feel free to contact me at dneil@montanasfa.org or call my cell phone at 406-899-0246.

Stay safe,

Doug

Try again!

3/19/2009 12:29:21 AM

Hopefully I can be as witty as I was last night, before cyberland swallowed all of my words of wisdom.

These are interesting times we are living here in Helena, you've been waiting for an update, so here it goes.

HB 408, FF Presumptive Legislation, it is still in House Approp's waiting to be brought out of the folder. This good legislation, is meeting opposition from THE STATE FUND, MMIA, and a few un-named others. There is talk of trying to merge it in with other legislation that is currently pending, we are not big fans of that, but are willing to listen to what is brought to the table. Standby for updates, we may have to turn you loose.

SB 79, One EMT and one qualified ambulance driver, this bad bill got amended down to a point that is acceptable to some, but could open doors to a future erosion of good deals that some of our departments now depend on.

LC 1137, Defined Contribution retirement legislation, will be hitting the Hopper soon. We need this to go away, and will fight diligently to make this bad idea go away.

We have some Workers Comp issues up today, and will adress FF issues with the proposed legislation.

HB 362, which our members have interest in will be heard today. We will report back soon on.

On a side bar, Vern and Carol Erickson visited last week and it was GREAT to have them here. Vern provided great insight, and they are always welcome here.

Have any of you been following our website, let us now!

There is alot more going on, just don' KNOW WHAT TO RESPOND.

DOUG

Norb's can you RESCUE my last post?

3/18/2009 12:22:53 AM

I just spent an hour on a post and cyber land swallowed it, HELP!

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

3/5/2009 12:38:59 AM

Just a quick update. We had our HB 408 hearing in front of House Appropriations on Tuesday, and we felt that it went well. All persons testifying were asked to limit their testimony to the fiscal concerns of their bills, so that took us out of our game plan a little, but it is not uncommon as all bills at this time have all been heard in committee and on the House floor. In the case of our bill and it's long journey to where we are at, it has been heard twice in committee and twice on the House floor. So far we are batting .500, with the wins having been more important than the losses. All of the team did an outstanding job in preparing for House Approp's, and those that testified on our behalf refuted the oppositions numbers that they previously testified and lobbied on.

The opponents consisted of the State Fund (more on them via e-mail at a later date), MMIA (employers insurance carrier), MACO (MT Assoc. of Counties), lobbyist for the City of Missoula, and three volunteer chiefs.

We will be working this very hard up til Executive Action which is friday am, as will they, and may need your assistance. We will let you know.

There are alot of other things going on here in Helena, and after committee action we will fill you in via e-mail.

A BIG THANK YOU to all our members across the state for your support and words of encouragement through the e-mails and phone calls, and a BIGGER Thanks to those that are covering shifts for us while we are here in Helena. Believe me when I say that there are definitely days that I would rather be be home riding the BRT and being with family and friends, than being here in Helena.

Stay Safe and keep in touch,

Doug