Update: Firefighters Residency Bill

On Feb. 27th the Local Government Committee voted down the bill that would have allowed City Firefighters to move out of the City by a vote of 8-3. On an interesting note 5 Republicans joined three of the Democrats on the Committee in voting "no". The bill is currently dead but could and probably will be resurrected in the form of an amendment on the House Floor. Many of the Committee members had nothing to gain and lots to lose by there "no" vote. They should be commended for recognizing the importance of the City's charter and doing the right thing.

Residency for St. Louis Firefighters

Today in the local Government Committee we heard Rep. St Onge's bill regarding the residency requirement for St. Louis Firefighters and related agencies. The proponents of the bill focused most of there testimony on the struggling school district and how they are not able to provide their children with a quality education and therefore must leave the city limits.

I understand the argument but I don't agree with it. City employees have a residency requirement. It is a condition of employment under the City Charter. Until the Citizens of St. Louis vote to change the charter requiring residency, I support the measure.

When I asked how many times the firefighters had taken their concerns to neighborhood groups to build support for their issue I was told "never". When I suggested that this should be resolved on a local level and not at the state level (by people who sometimes live over 5 hours from St. Louis) I was told that firefighters with children can no longer wait. For more on the Bill go to the following link: http://www.house.mo.gov/bills071/bills/hb325.htm