he House of Representatives has brushed aside objections from the White House and the IAFF to endorse a budget plan that will result in significant cutbacks in fire protection and require federal fire fighters to pay more out of pocket to qualify for a pension. The legislation, HR 5652, was approved by a vote of 218-199.

The proposal seeks to rewrite a bipartisan agreement reached last year between the White House and congressional leaders that called for reducing the deficit by cutting spending equally between defense and domestic priorities. HR 5652, which was authored by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), would replace the defense cuts with draconian cuts in federal aid to states and local governments, and with a 5 percent increase in pension contributions from federal workers.