Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas and also my friend from Pennsylvania. As you heard Congressman Barletta talk about, 90 percent of the 1,800 fire departments in Pennsylvania are all volunteer. These are men and women from the community that just come forward to serve. When you look at what is going on right now, what we have tried to do is close a gap. This is Treasury guidance, so by no means has it been codified. I think what we are doing with this piece of legislation, with H.R. 3979, we make certain--in a time where there is so much uncertainty--that these folks will be protected, will not be looked at in a way that does not make sense to them. Now, I have got to tell you that I was at an installation of officers back in my hometown of Butler. Ed Kirkwood, the manager of Butler Township, when asked about what could possibly happen, said: The township has over 130 volunteer firefighters serving the community. By my calculation, if this is not fixed, the township could go bankrupt. It would require a tax increase of 13.56 mills, or an increase of over two-and-a-half times the current rate to comply. Basically, if this is not fixed, Butler Township either doubles its taxes or loses their volunteer fire department. Chief Mike Cadman of Jamestown, when asked about this, said: that would be political suicide. I would venture that it is worse than political suicide. It is putting our citizens at risk when we don't have to.…”