Comments on: Seasonal Firefighters Seek Health Care Coverage
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By Westside2 on 07-11-12 @ 12:49 am
We need progressive solutions to challenges such as this. Life is not as black and white asmany politicians (and often our own brains too) often present.
By hotfishmt on 07-11-12 @ 5:53 pm
Having been there done that on a fire crew in Northern California back in the 60’s, it was very hard work & I was lead chain saw on a Shasta Trinity Hot Shot crew….does not make me an expert by
any means.
But, come on health insurance for when they are not working. From the fires around the Flathead
in 2006….there was some HUGE SUMS of money being paid. Even today the wages are way
above average. Yet, the people wanting them (health insurance) only work basically part time in
12 months. If there is NO FIRE season…..sure they lose, but it their choice not to get a normal
job…..and FINALLY….if the proposal stands or gets to the point of free health insurance….I
WOULD SURELY EXPECT SOME KIND…..OF PRE-PHYSICAL….to make sure some
drunk/druggie/bad person who knows someone on the “inside” gets on a crew and in no time has
ailment after aliment….and never puts in 30 days.
Sure many a hot shot crew these days come from Native American Reservations….and Lord
knows there is nothing except poverty & unemployment….so I say take them first for any fire
fighting job and then call up the part time rural fire fighters.
By Gabby Johnson on 07-11-12 @ 8:03 pm
Holy heck! Quick action from Washington!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-says-part-time-firefighters-can-buy-employee-health-insurance/2012/07/10/gJQAUdJebW_story.html
Now how about an emergency declaration, halt the lawsuits, and hire these brave folks to year
round jobs, give ‘em some snowshoes and a spool of primacord and start bringing down all these
dead trees when the snow falls?
By thinker on 07-12-12 @ 5:56 am
It’s not about health insurance. It’s about buying votes.
By cs1 on 07-14-12 @ 8:18 am
Thinker should read the facts of the article. Hint, online petition in April, workers in need, not free, etc. Thinker would you conclude Obama should have waited till after the election? I
assume you’d never agree with the decision.
By hotfishmt on 07-14-12 @ 8:30 am
i do agree with Gabby: hire them year round, and put them to use in getting control of the Pine Beetle. Least it would help control the little bugger. But, you can’t pay them the same wages they
get for fighting fires which would mean many would decline the proposal.
Back in 2006, some outrageous wages were being paid for most any able body person….just to
man a pickup with a water tank in the vehicle. That is also when the business men/women
said….hay there is some BIG BUCKS to make on the fire line.
But, lets face some more data: the USFS could use the $$$ spent researching…fires burn faster
with dead needles….and have a more rounded logical playing field. If nothing else, they could use
the US Army’s newest battle field weapon….MAN MADE LIGHTENING…..in the woods….just to kill
individual beetles…..lol Least it would keep the Defense Dept from wasting $$$ in an
unwinnable war & maybe help control the beetles before all the Lodgepole Trees are dead.
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