Iron Firemen Wooden Ladders & Iron Firemen
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Actually, don’t just read it …. “like” and “share” it on Face Book as well. We need to get the word out and have this loophole closed before another family is affected.
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I got a call from Bill Finegan the other day. He told me the story of Danny McIntosh. It pissed me off !
“Danny Mac” died in the Line Of Duty almost 2 years ago (March 2010). At the time, he was on duty for an EMS non-profit organization. Danny also worked as a firefighter and a sworn Law Enforcement Officer.
Learn more about Danny Mac by clicking HERE
At 39 years old, he was married with 2 daughters. His family is NOT eligible for about $330,000 in Federal Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) because of the badge he was wearing.
Federal PSOB covers paid & volunteer EMTs, paramedics & firefighters who work for Fire Department based non-profits, but they deny ALL claims if it’s an EMS based non-profit. If he was wearing any one of his other uniforms,Bethann, Delaney & Addison would have been covered!
The family, Bill and many others worked tirelessly to have this injustice corrected. Not just for Danny Mac’s family but for the families (survivors) of all future EMS based LODDs. Congressman Mike “the rockstar” Fitzpatrick became involved and eventually proposed HR1668 “Danny Mac” to close this stupid loophole. It ALMOST worked.
It actually passed both the House and Senate but had all “language” pertaining to Danny Mac “pulled” (removed) after reaching the Conference Committee. When a bill becomes law, the last step is the House & Senate bills go to a Conference Committee. The purpose of this committee is to RECONCILE the two bills. Many times there are subtle differences in the language. In this case, the Conference Committee CHANGED the two bills by pulling all of the “Danny Mac” language out of the bill. They pulled the language 90 minutes before the bill became law! Their arrogance is epic. I’m told that the decision was made by one of the staffers who works for Congressman Mica (Orlando)
The reasoning ??? MONEY. They didn’t want to add to the National Debt by having to “pay out” to more families of fallen Public Safety Officers! Can you believe it ?!?
So now, Congressman Fitzpatrick, Senator Leahy (author of the Senate bill), and Congressman Smith (TX) are going to introduce a stand-alone bill. They need to get the bill passed ASAP because Bethann’s last appeal will be heard in mid-March.
The family, Bill and several others are heading down to Washington DC tomorrow (Feb. 15th, 2012) to hold Congressman Mica accountable for the actions of his staffer. The “core group” (Danny Mac’s wife, Bill and the Bucks County PA guys) are being joined by Brothers and Sisters from as far away as Vermont & Texas.
This is grassroots- set up by guys who knew Danny- to honor his memory and to take care of his family. This isn’t being set-up, sponsored, endorsed, funded, or orchestrated by any lobbyists or national organizations.
They want to make it possible for the stand-alone to be passed before Bethann’s hearing, and to turn survivors’ issues into a political third rail. The plan is to hold Mica accountable in the court of public opinion. It would be a grand-slam if they could get some guys in the Orlando area to show up in front of one of his offices down there- and get the local media to cover it. They are working the networks to see if we can get it done…
This is where they need our help … SPREAD THIS STORY!
Share it on Face Book. Tweet it … re-post on your site, tell a friend, tell a fireman … whatever it takes … help get the story out there!
To all my Brothers and Sisters down in Orlando …. BEAT DOWN THE DOOR of Congressman Mica. Make is phone ring so much that they will want to unplug it! Have him look you in the eye as he explains why we (The United States) can’t afford Death Benefits for our fallen Brothers and Sisters. It actually doesn’t cost us a dime. The PSOB is funded by seized drug money!
Read more DETAILS from The Fire Critic by clicking HERE
Don’t let this injustice continue …
Captain Wines