Credit: Wildfire Today
The press has made a big deal of the number of party line votes during the 2013 legislative session. One of those party line votes has particular resonance today — whether or not to allocate funds for firefighting air tankers.
In the Senate Appropriations Committee, all the Democrats voted against funding the air tankers and all the Republicans voted in favor of the funds. See the vote here.
Governor Hickenlooper’s budget, which you can read here, didn’t propose a cent for firefighting tankers. It did, however, propose over $85 million for raises for state bureaucrats:
After four fiscal years without a raise, it is time for State employees to receive a modest cost of living adjustment of 1.5 percent and to reward top performers from a pool of funds equivalent to 1.5 percent of payroll. In total, these items require $57.8 million TF and $27.4 million GF.
The Governor didn’t propose a penny for tankers and he signed a bill, SB245, that didn’t contain a cent for tankers.
When Coloradans ask where the air tankers are, they should ask the Governor and legislative Democrats why they thought it wasn’t a priority.
you can, of course, assure us that this is the last fire ever in the state, right? moron. (in response to what you said, calling people sheep.)
There are many aircraft of many types immediately available for States rather than to recreate a Californian aircraft fleet model, albeit a very effective model. Aircraft such as the second DC10 air tanker bomber in Wyoming, numerous capable Airtractors with fire doors equipped, heavy helicopters that could be held for the State's exclusive use at a far more competitive price than trying to run your own fleet of State owned aircraft. This still could be done for the remainder of the fire danger period to guarantee aircraft availability when you need them rather than relaying on scant Federal resources which may arrive too late.
Hey Sean – Do you think these are the last fires we will see in Colorado this summer?
SO in other words all of your ignorant pissing and moaning here means nothing…nothing at all. Even if Gov. Hickenlooper had a suitcase full of cash for these tankers…we still wouldn't have them…..you people are sheep.
Had the bill been fully funded, the planes wouldn’t have been available for these fires, Brophy said, “but what’s happening right now underscores how important it is to take this action because we will have fires again next year.”.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/12/while-colorado-burns-republicans-slam-hickenlooper-for-not-funding-air-tanker-fleet/#ixzz2W3WoIAMT.
That's the Dems for ya!
Well drop all funding for the Hurricanes, and Tornado's then I know a lot of our royalties go to their cause.
As entrenched as the left is in Global Warming/Climate change shouldn't they have expected and anticipated this? Shouldn't the fires over the last few years been a clue to next few years? Or is it that they do not care or are willfully ignorant?
Colorado Dems vote $85,000,000 in pay raises but not a dime for firefighting art tankers and we are on fire today! It's only June and we have had 4 days of record heat!