First Responders Bill and Rep. Jim McDermott
One of the few sane and reasonable members of the US House of Representatives is Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) (check this out!), who doesn’t have a perfect voting record by any means, but appears to be a thoughtful legislator. The country would be much better off with more like him. McDermott has been vocal in opposition to the Iraq war and on the REAL ID Act, No Child Left Behind, and other enormities.
Knowing who he is, I was interested to see his name as being in the minority of the 409-10 vote on the so-called Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act, which purports to provide "priority assistance to first responders in communities facing the greatest risk. The bill streamlines the funding process for terrorism preparedness grants and requires the establishment of specific, flexible, and measurable goals for first responders. It also encourages states and localities to pool resources for regional benefit."
McDermott and the 9 others who voted against the bill must smell a rat, in the civil liberties implications of the act, in the funding abuse potential, or both. I plan to write his office and find out the roots of his opposition to the act, and will publish any response here. Nine of the 10 voting negative were Democrats, and the 10th was Barbara Cubin (R-WY), the only Wyoming rep in the House. Some 181 Democrats voted with the GOP on this one, and my usual dudes Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Ron Paul (R-TX) may well have missed something on this one. Of the 16 non-voters, 14 were Democrats, 1 Republican and 1 was Republican Speaker of the House Hastert, who sits out the non-close votes as has become tradition.
As an aside, the band Anti-Flag, referenced on McDermott’s website, once came to Eastern State Penitentiary to do a photo shoot while I was working there. An intern/tour guide who knew who they were took them on a tour and interviewed them for her zine. Apparently they’re nice guys.
