Budget cuts worry Maine firefighters

AUGUSTA – Maine’s first responders are upset with proposed cuts to federal programs established in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, and they will get a sympathetic reception when they meet with Maine’s congressional delegation later this month.

“These programs are very important to Maine fire departments,” said Rumford Fire Chief John Woulfe, president of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association. “They [the federal government] have required more training, and without the fire grant program, there would not be anything from them to help pay for what they are requiring.”

In his proposed budget, President Bush proposes to reduce funding for the firefighter grant program by 55 percent and proposes reducing homeland security grants by 63 percent.

“The firefighter grant has meant the difference for the small departments,” Woulfe said. “The fire act grants have substantially helped them with buying gear. The air packs they wear have been a savior for the small departments.”

Woulfe said that while the program of most help to fire departments has been the firefighter grant program, they also have benefited from the homeland security grants that have paid for training on how to handle hazardous materials spills and specialized equipment for handling other emergencies.

Police departments are equally supportive of the homeland security grants that have provided training and equipment and have helped communities move to interoperable communications systems. Wiscasset Police Chief Michael Emmons, president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, said many departments would not have been able to buy the new radios that can communicate on many frequencies, instead of being limited to a few frequencies.

“In small departments, you don’t get new equipment until something breaks or wears out,” he said. “We would not be in the shape we are without the grants program.”

Emmons said police agencies across the state are working together to solve communications problems as the first step in coordinating agencies. He said relying on phones, land line or cell, is not an option in a crisis.

Woulfe said he is going to Washington at the end of the month with other state fire chief association leaders from across the country to argue their case before Congress. He will get a positive reception from Maine’s delegation.

“There will be an effort, here in the Senate, to continue funding at current levels,” said Sen. Olympia Snowe, the senior member of the delegation. “The president has some very different priorities in his spending plan than I think most of the Senate has for the budget.”

Fellow Republican Sen. Susan Collins, the ranking member on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said the president’s cuts would not be adopted. She said the president has proposed large reductions in both the firefighter and the homeland security grants programs for several years and Congress has rejected them.

“The cuts in first responder grant programs are severe and would impair the ability of states and communities to respond effectively to disasters, like a hurricane or ice storm, whether they are man-made,” Collins said. “I often wonder if the cuts are proposed knowing Congress will restore them.”

She said the committee already has had some discussions about the president’s proposals, and she is convinced they will be rejected. She expects funding will be “about the same levels” and that first responders should not expect an increase in funds.

Second District Rep. Michael Michaud agreed. He said Democrats have adopted the “pay go” rule that basically requires any spending or new program be funded by cuts in other areas or by new taxes.

“We can’t keep increasing the federal budget deficit,” he said. “First responders and homeland security grants are not the only areas where we have to look for additional funding. It’s not going to be easy, but we have to do it.”

Fellow Democrat 1st District Rep. Tom Allen said the president knew that many of the areas where he proposed cuts would not be passed by Congress. He said the budget was not realistic.

“We are going to do everything we can to restore those cuts and, where appropriate, find money for an increase,” Allen said.