IAFF endorses Obama

[LtTony]

No surprise I suppose. The candidates' records posted by the IAFF certainly make Obama appear to be the logical choice for my labor union. In the past I've voted my pocket book, except for 2004. I may ignore (the perceived) economics this time, too, for working families. I'm undecided; I can't get excited about either one.

http://www.firefightersforobama.com/

[FWDbuff]

Sadly, not everything the IAFF has ever done was smart.

REPUBLICAN

BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE CAN BE ON WELFARE!

[DaSharkie]

Phew. I can sleep now. Like the IAFF (or any union for that matter) making a political endorsement really affects how the average person votes.

They should have just shut their mouths and let the election play out.

[ScareCrow57]

What amazes me is that any union would endorse a candidate who proposes to take more money from the working class to give it to the poor. It should be more about what will this candidate do for my union members. Just one more reason to hate unions.

[scfire86]

What amazes me is that any union would endorse a candidate who proposes to take more money from the working class to give it to the poor. It should be more about what will this candidate do for my union members. Just one more reason to hate unions.

I read some of the comparisions on the website. I'll look for other sources but I believe that is exactly what occurred.

McCain supports placing firefighters into the Social Security which would be an immediate hit of about 16% on income. He wants to overturn FLSA which would have an impact on how overtime is calculated.

Most curious to me is his opposition to defined benefit pension plans. He campaigned here in CA to support an initiative that would have demolished defined benefit plans in 2005. It lost. The Governor has expressed regret over supporting the issue but McCain has not. What is curious to me is his belief in this matter given that he collects a pension for his years of service as a naval officer and qualifies for another as a legislator. If he believes defined benefit pension plans are so wrong why isn't he now advocating eliminating them for federal workers. Especially those in the DoD?

Like it or not, he has a record of opposing what I call very much bread and butter issues for working people.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

SC.. it's ntr only firefighters who would take the hit on social security.. the municipalites alsiohave to kick in their share... less funding for FD's police, DPWd education.. and that means either cutting services or raising taxes.

I had my 40 quarters in before I got on the FD. I highly doubt that I will see a cent from it.

[ScareCrow57]

Actually, I didn't tell the whole story here. Personally, I think both candidates are absolutely horrible. They both want to tax more and spend more. They both support the nonsense of Global Warming, Both think there is some sort of health care crisis. I do like Obamas Idea to raise the top income on SSI, personally, there should be no top income.

But neither of them gets it. Less taxes, far less spending. It's that simple. Yet, our politicians need to spend on special interest in order to buy votes. I would also like to see an end to subsidies and a reduction in tax incentives. The tax code needs to be simplified.

How come they do not have a "do over" button on the voting machine?

[ScareCrow57]

SC.. it's ntr only firefighters who would take the hit on social security.. the municipalites alsiohave to kick in their share... less funding for FD's police, DPWd education.. and that means either cutting services or raising taxes.

I had my 40 quarters in before I got on the FD. I highly doubt that I will see a cent from it.

Of course that is another pet peeve. Why should anyone be exempt from paying into the system? If it is good enough for our military then it should be good enough for everyone.

Of course they want to follow up the SSI stuff with universal health care. This will be another program benefiting a few and taxing everyone. Of course we will have to provide health care for illegal immigrants too. Heck, while we are at it, let's just provide health care for the world !!!!

[scfire86]

Sample

SC.. it's ntr only firefighters who would take the hit on social security.. the municipalites alsiohave to kick in their share... less funding for FD's police, DPWd education.. and that means either cutting services or raising taxes.

I'm thinking the hit will be on the employee.

I had my 40 quarters in before I got on the FD. I highly doubt that I will see a cent from it.

You'll see something. It just won't be as much as if you weren't going to receive a government pension.

SSI Government Offset

[scfire86]

Of course that is another pet peeve. Why should anyone be exempt from paying into the system? If it is good enough for our military then it should be good enough for everyone.

That's because neither you or our military pay into a pension that was designed to be self sufficient.

There is no personal account for social security recipients or military personnel. The benefits are paid out of the general funds. McCain believes those of us who haven't paid into the system should now have to do so.

Regardless of what you think. I won't be voting for McCain for both this and the FLSA reasons. George Bush (the smarter) once stated that people vote their wallets. Truer words were never spoken.

[txgp17]

IAFF endorsement of Obama is no surprise. His views on labor are close to theirs. And we wonder why Detroit and Flint are the barren places they are.

I am a member of the IAFF, but on a personal level, I'm anti-compulsory-Union. In my State, it's open shop, or voluntary. I choose to be member to take advantage of some of the benefits offered by them, such as legal representation in the event of a motor vehicle crash. My Union has no collective bargaining ability.

A closed shop or union shop monopolizes the workforce, which leads to an inefficient cost of services. This produces higher wages at the expense of fewer jobs or excessive costs to the customer.

Not everything a Union does is golden. Look at some of the things that have happened in Boston. The Union opposed the Firefighters being drug tested. Maybe I didn't read enough details, but that's still hard to comprehend.

One of the major things I'd like to see is a lateral transfer program that allows firefighters to move from one Dept to another, even if it's only within your home State. By doing so, fighters would not be locked into staying in a place where pay & benefits are lacking. They could easily transfer to another Dept that offers more for their skills, without losing their pension.

So if a Municipality/Fire District chooses to start neglecting their personnel, they'd likely see an exodus of personnel, leaving them looking for new employees who lack important skill sets. This would immediately put them on notice.

[scfire86]

One of the major things I'd like to see is a lateral transfer program that allows firefighters to move from one Dept to another, even if it's only within your home State. By doing so, fighters would not be locked into staying in a place where pay & benefits are lacking. They could easily transfer to another Dept that offers more for their skills, without losing their pension.

Many departments in CA have reciprocity between pension plans. I'm surprised this isn't available in TX.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Of course that is another pet peeve. Why should anyone be exempt from paying into the system? If it is good enough for our military then it should be good enough for everyone.

Of course they want to follow up the SSI stuff with universal health care. This will be another program benefiting a few and taxing everyone. Of course we will have to provide health care for illegal immigrants too. Heck, while we are at it, let's just provide health care for the world !!!!

Back when Social Security was started, the Feds didn't want public employees in the system.

That is why we have our own pension system, which I pay into, along with my IRA's.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have talked about raiding our pensions and incorporating it into SSI.

[MemphisE34a]

What amazes me is that any union would endorse a candidate who proposes to take more money from the working class to give it to the poor. It should be more about what will this candidate do for my union members. Just one more reason to hate unions.

You just don't get it.

The IAFF considers only matters that pertain to the members of the organization as they relate to your job, period.

Welfare, family values, gun rights, pro-life vs pro-choice - none of these are considered because they do not matter to the IAFF as an organization.

Individual IAFF members have to insert FF issues in the list where they deem appropriate and vote accordingly.

[MemphisE34a]

Of course that is another pet peeve. Why should anyone be exempt from paying into the system? If it is good enough for our military then it should be good enough for everyone.

It is amazing to me how people argue about stuff when they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

[txgp17]

Many departments in CA have reciprocity between pension plans. I'm surprised this isn't available in TX.

It may be.
I know my screen name is confusing, but I'm in NC. I've never lived in TX. The screen name is throw back to my fraternity in college.

Welfare, family values, gun rights, pro-life vs pro-choice - none of these are considered because they do not matter to the IAFF as an organization.

Ding Ding Ding

This explains the motives behind almost all endorsements from special interest groups. The IAFF has backed some Republicans, and the NRA has backed some Democrats. Everything isn't black & white.

[scfire86]

It may be.
I know my screen name is confusing, but I'm in NC. I've never lived in TX. The screen name is throw back to my fraternity in college.

Maybe it's time to get my prescription checked. It might help if read your location under your name I would have seen that.

[JHR1985]

Many departments in CA have reciprocity between pension plans. I'm surprised this isn't available in TX.

Texas does have such a thing called the Texas Municipal Retirement system or TMRS. If your city, which a lot do, is in the program, you can tranfers to it and maintain your retirement. For example, you do 15 years here and leave to go here. You are a new employee but you still have 15 years in the retirement system.

Now, not every FD does that. I moved to one that doesnt and got my money back minus taxes.

And regarding the Boston drug testing comment, search the topics on it. If the city wants it, you have to give a little to get a little so to say. The union just isnt going to gives its privelages away for free

[Geinandputitout]

Of course that is another pet peeve. Why should anyone be exempt from paying into the system? If it is good enough for our military then it should be good enough for everyone.

Of course they want to follow up the SSI stuff with universal health care. This will be another program benefiting a few and taxing everyone. Of course we will have to provide health care for illegal immigrants too. Heck, while we are at it, let's just provide health care for the world !!!!

My pension system is evaluated annually. At the end of the year if it is not funded to 100% of its actuarial value, then my contribution rate and the city's contribution rate go up. If it is funded above 100% then everyone's rates go down to the minimums.

Try that with social security.

[jccrabby3084]

They should have just shut their mouths and let the election play out.

I agree. The writing for this endorsement has been on the wall for awhile, but like Jasper states, the IAFF should take the Bono approach and work with whoever is in office, rather than burn bridges. I don't see why the IAFF needs to endorse another candidate since their first choice dropped out.