Head of IAFF discusses Dodd endorsement, spending caps and Shaheen support

By Brian Lawson, PolitickerNH.com Reporter

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger at a rally for Jeanne Shaheen: Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.comMANCHESTER-- The head of the International Association of Fire Fighters say the group's endorsement of U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) during the primary did not affect the group's reputation.

"Our reputation is based on loyalty, we don't treat our endorsement like a race track," IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said in an interview with PolitickerNH.com. "We take a look at the issues and see which horses have stood with us on the issues."

The group announced its endorsement of Dodd in the same location where the group today endorsed former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's (D-Madbury) senatorial campaign.

"Chris Dodd had a 32 year track record supporting the issues critically important to our members and I believe doing that says to the political community out there that this is a group that places honor and loyalty above everything else and that's the kind of support we want," Schaitberger added.

Schaitberger said the IAFF endorsed Shaheen over U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) because of Shaheen's support of programs that helped Granite State firefighters.

"As governor, Jeanne Shaheen had a pretty good track record in understanding firefighters needed the training, for example the terrorism training they needed," he said. "You transfer her record and commitment to the issues that allow our members to do a pretty tough job against John Sununu who voted against funding, for example, the SAFER Act in Congress."

Responding to similar comments Schaitberger made at a Manchester rally for Shaheen, the Sununu campaign argued that the Republican Senator has supported firefighters.

"Senator Sununu has been an effective leader for the people of New Hampshire - he has stood up for firefighters and first responders time and time again by supporting legislation to create the Assistance to Fire Fighter Grants, the SAFER Grant Program and co-sponsored the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act," Lt. Terry Pfaff of the Manchester Fire Department said.

Schaitberger also discussed the effect of spending caps on local municipalities and firefighters.

"Caps really translate into restricted services. Government has to provide essential services to their communities and if you end up restricting revenues then not only are you cutting government, you have to pick and choose between education, police, firefighters," he said.

The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition has been attempting to institute spending caps as a way to reign in local government spending.

Also on PolitickerNH.com:

Firefighters rally for Shaheen

Brian Lawson is a PolitickerNH.com Reporter and can be reached via email at brian.lawson@politickernh.com.

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Comments

Spending Caps...

posted by Small Government

So IAFF rallies against spending caps as they edorse Shaheen. I wonder if there is a connection between their support of Jeanne and them wanting the Caps to stay off the ballot?

09/18/08 5:11 pm

Am I the only one who finds

posted by Dig Deeper

Am I the only one who finds it VERY odd that the national president of the IAFF - who endorsed Shaheen - is interested in the spending cap in Manchester?

Is this why the democrats are so opposed to this being on this November's ballot? Because it might hurt Shaheen?

Shaheen implemented the statewide property tax and proposed a state income tax when she was governor. I would think the people who would come out to vote for a spending cap would not be Shaheen-friendly.

That might explain why AFL-CIO lobbyist Mark Mackenzie was at the city hall meeting the night Guinta kept them there till midnight.

I smell something stinky.

09/18/08 6:23 pm

Liar liar pants on fire

posted by nhnative

Please provide evidence that Jeanne Shaheen prposed an income tax. It was the opposite; her veto threat stopped an income tax proposal passed by the NH House - which had a Republican majority.

09/18/08 9:23 pm

Spending Cap

posted by JBC

It does indeed seem odd that the head of the IAFF is worried about a spending cap in little old Manchester, NH. To specifically mention the cap during an endorsement press conference for Jeanne Shaheen underscores the predictable harmful effect this measure would have to her voter support in Manchester. I guess the IAFF sees Jeanne Shaheen as the same big spending liberal we see her as.

09/19/08 6:18 am