Defeated
Fire Fighters and EMS Bills
Defeated
By Delegate Todd Kirby
Over the past couple of weeks, I had dozens of constituents reach out to me over the lack of funding for EMS and volunteer fire department in out state. House Bill 3153 was a step in the right direction. It would have given over 6 million dollars to these vital and lifesaving services.
The House voted to fund it with excess lottery funds, but the senate set it back to us last night with the funding paid for by a doubling of an insurance surcharge. We disagreed with this increased cost on taxpayer, especially with the record “surplus,” but due to the deadline of midnight
last night to get bills through the finish line we held our noses and voted it through.
This was around 10 pm last night. The senate received it back from us and then decided to vote for it, with no votes against it. It was on its way to the governor’s desk. And then out of nowhere, there was a motion to reconsider that vote and it was voted down.
The exact same bill they sent to the House, and that we approved and that they also approved was suddenly an inexplicably voted down after a motion to reconsider. I’d love to tell you the names of the senators that voted this bill down, but it was a voice vote and not a roll call vote.
Senate wrapped up early wit good bills dying as a result. But you know what they did pass before hightailing out of the capital early? Pay raises for themselves and the executive branch.
You starting to get the picture yet?