Published: June 17, 2009 08:18 pm      

Rogers called out over fire station grant, stimulus stance

Democratic group refers to Congressman's position on program as 'hypocrisy'

Is Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers encouraging emergency responders to take part in something he doesn’t support?

That’s what one branch of political opposition is accusing Rogers of after the Fifth District Republican recently urged fire departments throughout his part of the state to apply for a new competitive grant program for firehouse improvements.

A release from the congressman’s office at the beginning of the week promoted the Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants program, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in which Rogers has had a very influential hand over the years. The program provides financial assistance to fire departments to build new fire stations or renovate existing ones, with the goal to improve response capability and better protect the community from fire hazard scenarios.

“Times are tough and local government budgets are tight, but this is one of the few opportunities our rural fire fighters throughout Kentucky have this year to update and repair their firehouses,” said Rogers. “Firefighters are our first responders to the scene of a car accident, wildfire, or chemical spill, and adequate fire facilities improve morale and encourage others to volunteer and serve our region. I want to encourage all of our fire chiefs to try and take full advantage of this unique opportunity.”

Yet the grant program came about as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — that is, President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan signed into law earlier this year. Rogers voted against the Democratic president’s piece of legislation, as did every other Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives back in January.

So does that make Rogers a political hypocrite? That’s what one Democrat organization is suggesting. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued a press release entitled, “Hypocrisy Alert: Representative Hal Rogers Urges Kentucky Firefighters to Apply for Grant Program That He Voted Against,” challenging Rogers’ position on the matter. .

“Representative Rogers continues to say one thing in Kentucky and do another in Washington,” said Jessica Santillo, Southern Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “If Representative Rogers thinks these grants are a unique’ opportunity for Kentucky, why did he vote against them?”

Rogers responded by calling it his “duty” to keep rural Kentucky aware of such funding opportunities.

“With local communities struggling and our own state budget in deficit, making firefighters in southern and eastern Kentucky aware of resources to renovate or build new fire stations is hardly hypocrisy,” said Rogers.

Rogers noted that he voted against President Obama’s stimulus bill because of his position that the debt it would create — in many cases, going to causes the congressman opposes — could be too massive for the country to endure.

“(The bill) provides $8 billion to build a train track from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, takes an unnecessary stab at ending abstinence education, and worst of all, effectively allows these dollars or any potential jobs to go to illegal aliens,” he said.

“Of course, when the government spends a trillion dollars of the taxpayers’ money, there are going to be a few bright spots. This time, the bright spot was for firefighters and I will never hesitate to announce new opportunities for the hard working people of Kentucky.”

An application and information about the fire grant program may be obtained by visiting the DHS Web site at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/afscg/. Information and assistance can also be obtained by calling 1.866-274-0960 or e-mail firegrants@dhs.gov. The deadline for submitting application materials is Friday, July 10 at 8 p.m.