|
PRESS RELEASE
Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association
|
Mark Drygas,
President
|
|
Matt McSorley, Sec./Treasurer
|
April 12, 2008
Yesterday, April 11, the Alaska Senate passed House Bill 200 which will provide presumptive coverage for fire fighters who contract certain defined cancers and for respiratory and cardiac diseases associated with firefighting.
“This is a huge step forward for our young state association” said Association President Mark Drygas. “From the outset of our formation, we were determined to work across party lines and focus solely on fire fighter issues. We were active in the last election cycle and our efforts have paid off by seeing passage of this legislation with bipartisan support.”
This was truly a statewide effort requiring the cooperation of each local, from Ketchikan in the south to Local 4505 in North Pole. The effort was directed by AKPFFA Legislative Director, Jeff Briggs (L1264, Anchorage).
By law, the 90-day legislature adjourns on April 13. As of April 3, HB 200 had not made it to the house floor, let alone the Senate Finance Committee and on to the Senate floor. “The so called capitol experts were saying we were through – with over 100 bills sitting in Senate Finance, our cause was lost. We had run out of time. But they did not account for the fact that we are firefighters - we don’t back down. We pressed forward using every possible means to keep the legislation moving.” says Drygas. “Jeff’s work all session and especially in that final week has earned both him and firefighters tremendous respect on ‘the hill’ as the capitol in Alaska is referred to.”
On April 4 the bill passed the House 32-3 (out of 40). We were able to have the bill heard in the Senate Finance Committee on the 10th and on April 11 the bill passed the senate 18-2 (of 20). “The large victory margins are in no way indicative of the hard fought battle it took to get to the respective floors. The Alaska Joint Insurance Association fought us all the way. In the end though - only five legislators out of 60 voted against the firefighters.”
The bill now awaits Governor Sarah Palin’s signature.
Work on legislative activity in Alaska is expensive and requires a large time commitment. The capitol, Juneau, is accessible only by air or sea. Jeff’s lobbying activities, and the assistance of other members required almost weekly flights to the capitol city. This year the AKPFFA held their first ever legislative conference and were joined by 7th District Vice-President, Ricky Walsh, at their first annual legislative reception. The reception featured Whiskey Drunken Alaska Spot Shrimp prepared by Juneau Local 4303 and was the talk of the capitol the following day.
The Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association is looking forward to hosting the Spring 2008 Conference of the Federation of State and Provincial Professional Fire Fighters Association in Anchorage, May 21, 22, 23.
|
.jpg)