Gunderson: Why I voted against Senate Bill 72

In one of my committees this week, we heard a bill that would create a law requiring the state to take on the liability and treatment costs for firefighters with lung disease. There was a lot of passionate testimony given as well as very technical testimony given by a specialist in epidemiology of diseases of the lungs that explained the definition of lung cancer.

I applaud the firefighters across the state. My son is a firefighter. These folks have chosen a profession that most would or could not perform and work every day to keep our communities safe.

This bill that we were presented in committee would create a “presumptive illness law” for firefighters, meaning illnesses that is likely linked to an occupation. We were told during the hearing that this bill would only be for lung disease. But it’s notable that when I look at the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) website, I found a HUGE laundry list of diseases that fall under this area of protection that other states have been asked to include. My hesitation, and that of many of my colleagues, is that the list of illnesses, conditions and diseases that the Montana taxpayer will be asked to be liable for will grow by leaps and bounds in coming years. There are better ways to address this important issue.

A good alternative could be to ask the cities and municipalities that hire and pay these firefighters to come to the table as part of the solution. The City of Great Falls sent the committee a very moving and compelling letter of recommendation advising the State to take on this huge liability. We ask that the cities take on some of this liability to provide services to their community firefighters.

I want my community to know that I did not take this vote lightly, nor do I come to this decision without personal experience of my own. My experience of living in Libby has given me a first-hand appreciation of the problems of chronic lung disease. Like many who live in Libby, breathing the air in our town has given me a horrible lung disease that will ultimately take my life. The list of people in Libby who are in the same situation as me will continue to grow, and their needs will only grow proportionately.

Senate Bill 72 underestimates the long-term cost that these lung diseases will add to the system and underestimates the number of people that will be in need of long term care from across the State. If the cities that hire these folks aren’t willing to give them this coverage, why are they asking the State to shoulder this liability?

I was told that the hardest part of my job as a State Representative would be saying no, and that’s true. It is easy to say yes and to let the next person or next committee or even the next chamber kick the can down the road. I made the hard choice, I made the hard vote. I applaud my committee members for doing the same.

Steve Gunderson

Montana House of Representatives

District 01

Member - Business and Labor Committee