Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva To Allow Vote On Bill Providing Financial Help To Firefighters With Cancer After Initially Blocking It
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – After blocking a bill that would provide additional financial help to firefighters who contract cancer, House Speaker Jose Oliva now says he will allow the bill to be voted on.
Firefighters are at a far greater risk of contracting cancer and dying from the disease and many scientists believe it is related to the smoke and chemicals they breathe in while on the job.
A bill to provide firefighters who contract certain types of cancer a $25,000 payout to help defray some of their expenses.
Eighty two out of 120 members of the state house signed on as co-sponsors.
Nevertheless, Oliva blocked the bill.
Critics had argued Oliva opposed the bill as political payback to the firefighters union who had backed Democratic candidates.
In a statement this afternoon Oliva denied politics entered his thinking and he said he was now allowing the bill to move forward.
