Meet the woman fighting against a law that would help Ohio firefighters with cancer
UPDATE: One mayor tells Susan Cave she is wrong
We all know a cancer presumption law for firefighters can be controversial and it can take a lot of time and effort to convince lawmakers to do the right thing. But if you’re the main person opposing this effort, don’t you owe it to the firefighters who are suffering to sit down and explain exactly why you are denying them the help they need? Isn’t that the minimum you should do?
In Ohio, the lobbyist who has made sure that four such bills since 2008 fail doesn’t think the firefighters in the state deserve a clear explanation. She is Susan Cave, the executive director of the Ohio Municipal League, a lobbying group funded by the cities and towns in Ohio.
Watch in the video below how Susan Cave tries to get out of talking about cancer and firefighters with Sarah Buduson of WEWS-TV in Cleveland. In the same video is the story of Beachwood Fire Captain Mike Palumbo and the toll his battle with cancer is taking because of the lack of such a law.
Click here if the video above fails to play
“I feel almost embarrassed as the state of Ohio,” said Ohio Senator Tom Patton (R-District 24.)
“There’s no other disabling injury that someone in Ohio will receive while working that we don’t take care of,” he said.
Since 2008, Patton has introduced what’s known as presumptive cancer legislation, not once, or twice, but four times in Ohio.
The proposed legislation would mean firefighters could receive money for medical costs, workers’ compensation, and survivor benefits for their dependents.
The latest version of Patton’s bill (SB 27) was introduced in February of 2015. It was assigned to the Senate Insurance Committee. A year later, it has yet to be scheduled for a vote.
