It is a fact that firefighters get cancer and die of cancer at a higher rate than the rest of us — 14% higher. Study after study shows that job-related cancer is the number one killer of firefighters.
It is a fact that no fewer than 45 states have addressed this issue by passing 
laws that provide additional cancer coverage or health benefits for them.
It is a fact that a bill to extend cancer coverage for firefighters has sailed through and is certain to pass in the Florida Senate and has a whopping 82 sponsors in the House. That’s two thirds of the membership — more bipartisan support than any other bill this year, or perhaps any year ever, practically guaranteeing passage.
But Rep. Jose Oliva, as the Republican Speaker of the House, is holding the bill hostage, refusing to send it to committee or take it to the floor. And it’s not because he is too busy trying to arm teachers in our schools. Or because he is concerned about the potential impact to municipal government budgets. This legislature is not shy about passing unfunded mandates.
Oliva gave some lame excuse about home rule. “This is an issue best dealt with 
at the county level as each department faces varying levels of danger and exposure and counties are best equipped to tailor benefits to need within available resources,” he said in a statement.
But that is BS. There is no difference in levels of danger from municipality to municipality, which, by the way, have multi-agency agreements to work together. There is no difference in levels of danger from state to state.
“This is something that didn’t discriminate along county lines,” said Sen. Anitere Flores, the sponsor in the Senate.
Read related: GOP gets desperate in Hialeah senate race against David Perez
The fact is Oliva won’t move the House bill to punish firefighters statewide for supporting one of their own, Coral Gables Firefighter David Perez, against former State Rep. Manny Diaz, Jr. in the 2018 senatorial race that Diaz eventually won.
Former State Rep. Frank Artiles — who is close to Oliva and has been a 
staple in his office even before he gets the green light to lobby next week — basically threatened as much on Facebook during the campaign.
“Good luck on your cancer presumption bill next year… I see a 4 stop bill in your near future,” wrote Artiles — who was forced to resign in 2017 after he made some very racist statements in a drunken rant — on a David Perez Facebook post.
If that’s not proof that this is political payback, Ladra doesn’t know what is.
Artiles has a grudge against firefighters. He basically ranted to Ladra about them during Dade Days in 2013.
And yes, he had a couple of drinks in him.
“Their jobs are ridiculous. They hardly fight fires. They work 24 hours on and 48 off,” he told Ladra outside a bar in Tallahassee. We were standing alongside then State Rep. Jose Felix “Pepi” Diaz and former 
State Rep. Robert Asencio, who was there in his pre-elected role as president of Florida Public Employees Partnership. When Asencio and Ladra asked for proof of his allegations, Artiles admitted his real reason for the hate: Firefighters unions had mailed six mailers against Central Florida Republicans that year. “They went after my boys,” he said.
Read related: Tales from Tallahassee — quick observations from Dade Days
House Bill 857 would require municipal governments to provide full cancer coverage, including disability and death benefits, to firefighters who meet a 
certain criteria, like being non-smokers and on the job for at least five years. Instead of workman’s comp, firefighters who are diagnosed with any of several specific cancers in the bill would get a lump sum one-time $25,000 payment, money that can help their families pay for the healthcare and keep their homes.
Again, 45 states have adopted similar laws. That’s 45 out of 50, indicating that it is the right way to go.
Supporters say the measure is necessary to account for the increased risk of cancer due to not only smoke inhalation but exposure to carcinogens and burning toxic substances in building materials, such as asbestos. All those boots on the state capitol steps are from firefighters who are sick or have died of cancer.
Critics, which include the League of Cities, say it forces an unfunded mandate on municipalities that are already stretched thin.
But the truth is the $5 million estimated impact it would statewide is a drop in the bucket in Florida, where, just last year, the legislature approved $147.5 million worth of budget turkeys, otherwise known as individual appropriations that circumvent the thorough and thoughtful committee and budget process, most of the time for legislator’s pet projects.
The truth is this bill’s blockage has nothing to do with the budget. This is nothing more than political payback. At its ugliest.
Oliva hasn’t even had the courtesy to respond to the firefighters who call him or the relatives that have traveled to Tallahassee to advocate for the bill. Juan Garcia, father of Ralf Garcia — a Miami Fire firefighter paramedic (photo, right) who died in 2015 of brain cancer at the age of 28 — wrote Oliva a personal letter that was hand-delivered by Omar Blanco, president of the Miami-Dade firefighters union two weeks ago. Y nada. ¡Que descaro!
All the firefighters and their families want is for the merits of the bill to be discussed by the members of the House and not decided upon by one man who has made himself God in this case.
“We just want an opportunity to present our situation,” said Claudine Buzzo, a Miami-Dade firefighter diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2016, who was out of work for four months to get treatment.
“He is not even allowing us to be heard and that’s what’s baffling,” Buzzo told CBS4’s Jim DeFede on Facing South Florida. “We don’t know what the reason is. He won’t even speak with us.”
Yeah, we know why.
Call Oliva today and demand that House Bill 857 be heard. Skip the office number. Call him on his cellphone at 305-761-6144. Text him. Tell him to put political payback aside and do the right thing.
Jose Oliva holds firefighter cancer bill hostage for political payback added by Ladra on
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[…] the seat vacated by Rene Garcia, now a Miami-Dade Commissioner. Artiles hates Blanco so much that he held the firefighter cancer bill hostage because of him. Imagine that. Hurting hundreds of firefighters who are battling cancer because of a […]
[…] the seat vacated by Rene Garcia, now a Miami-Dade Commissioner. Artiles hates Blanco so much that he held the firefighter cancer bill hostage because of him. Imagine that. Hurting hundreds of firefighters who are battling cancer because of a […]
[…] a Miami blogger publicly raised those allegations — and comments from another Oliva ally, the disgraced former […]
Frank Artiles you and Jose Oliva are nothing but low-class MUTTs, I’m sure you can have your staff Google the meaning.
[…] won, but those allegations gained steam when Political Cortadito, a political blog run by former Miami Herald reporter Elaine De Valle, wrote that Frank Artiles, […]
[…] Read related: Jose Oliva holds firefighter cancer bill hostage for political payback […]
[…] her April 15, 2019 article, Jose Oliva holds firefighter cancer bill hostage for political payback, Political Cortadito blogger Elaine de Valle (a/k/a Ladra) […]
Just to shed a little light on this article. I’m a former Marine, and currently employed with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. I called Frank, whom I’ve never met, and personally spoke to him regarding this issue. I asked him questions only a Marine could respond correctly to and spoke about the cancer research that Palm Beach County Fire Rescue performs with its Firefighters on a yearly basis. He never skipped a beat and spoke with knowledge and compassion in regards to his love and support for this community. I know many civilians may have their own opinions and insights that they believe in. However, unless you live this life and endure the daily battles it encompasses, you’ll never truly get the reality. So when you respond here please consider that even though Frank is not a Firefighter, he is a United States Marine! He may not carry the burden of our daily sacrifices, but he does understand what those sacrifices mean and what it takes to willingly give your life for what you believe in. Frank Artiles may not have perfect grammar but he is a voice and he carries my vote of confidence in the issues regarding cancer in the fire community.
This is Jorge L. Fors, Jr. I am commenting to clarify that I did not author the comment above. Whoever wrote that comment used my name. I have not read this blog post.
Did “no fan” eat paint chips as a child or are his parents idiots too?
Curious I noticed that former State Senator Artlies graduated law school. Yet he is not listed on the Florida Bar registration as a licensed attorney. Do you know if he took the bar exam or choose not to get his law license?
Oh please. Firefighters have one of the best gigs in government witnessed the 5 year waiting line to get a job. Nowhere else is supply and demand so unbalanced except maybe Democratic presidential candidate
The job is not a life threatening profession. convenient store clerk has a higher mortality rate. I think the only MD death in the last decade was a training exercise gone wrong.
The reason they enjoy such a lucrative contract is because they use their excessive free time to play politics They are the 800 pound gorilla in local elections .
So if they want to live by the sword they die by the sword.
You are an idiot. The world is dumber for you being part of it.
This an issue that Artiles is definitely politicizing. It is shameful. He admitted it was a political move. He is the one who should disappear from the policial landscape. He cares nothing for firefighters. If he did, he would do what is right. Oliva is just as dirty and immoral.
In my cousin’s family there was a beautiful boy whom I saw grow up and then taken by this terrible disease.
My heart goes out to all those who have suffered and yet must look at this right wing blockade.
Good REPORTING, Elaine, as always. That’s why you have the Pulitzer’s.
Reading Frank Artiles response is painful. For someone who was a member of the Florida House, I’d expect better grammar. Is he drunk again?
Firefighting is not Democratic or Republican …Cancer is not democratic or republican….getting offended by someone endorsing a candidate that supports firefighters is not reason to block the support, health, and lives of firefighters battling cancer.
Mr Artilies…. your concern about the inner working of the fire union is very interesting…it seems like your very displeased with an organization that supports both Democrats and Republicans. I would think being an American who loves and served his country you would respect all citizens rights to views, opinions, and choices. That you would not try to silence or retaliate against people that might not totally agree with you on every subject. That maybe you would encourage a debate on this bill…at least sit down and talk about it…but instead you and your friends choose to turn your back on 80 plus representatives(D and R)…..turn your back on ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA… take out a personal vendetta and attack a fellow Republican like Omar Blanco. Interesting idealology. interesting actions….. I appreciate you showing your true colors. I simply wish you would look past you…and look at us….because this isn’t about you….its about FIREFIGHTERS health and families. have a blessed day.
“My records speak for itself”. You got that right! Frank Artiles. In 2012 you were the only one that handed out slate cards telling people to vote against the Pets’ Trust.
In 2012, Frank Artiles was the only elected official in Dade County who actively campaigned against the Pets’ Trust. Apparently, it didn’t bother him that 20,000 animals were being killed every year at the animal shelter, and apparently it also doesn’t both him that firefighters are dying in record numbers from cancer.
Frank Artiles Slate Card From 2012 Says Do NOT Vote For The Pet’s Trust….
The Pets’ Trust stood with the Firefighters in 2012 when fire stations were being closed, and we stand with the firefighters now in support of the bill that will provide you help if God forbid cancer affects anyone of you while you unselfishly give of yourselves to help all of us.
Look at that slate card. EVERY ITEM SAYS VOTE YES EXCEPT ONE. That tells you all you need to know about Frank Artiles.
Mr. Fors,
You are fos. Ladra has attacked Dems. Almost from day one she was attacking Annette Taddeo, for example.
Mr. Juan Garcia,
Obviously Mr. Scumbag Artiles was a Marine. That’s what’s wrong with him. Maybe his head didn’t fit in a jar.
All the way
Airborne
I think is very irresponsible and very unethical to be putting people personal contact information to be harass. I might not agree with their politics but you seem to want a modern day lynching just because in your personal opinion they are corrupt. if you are an unbiased “journalist” as you say you are. you should not be acting so reckless with unconfirmed opinions, since you became a register Democrat to support your friend ex-commissioner power grab Kristen Gonzalez. las malas lenguas say you were going to get a position in her new position that why you supported her. in addition you only seem to attack republicans and democrats you consider republicans. what a shame.
Mr. Fors, I did not publish personal information. I did not publish Speaker Oliva’s home phone number or address. I published his cell phone — the same one he uses to talk to lobbyists — precisely because he is ignoring the people who call his office. Publishing an elected official’s cell phone number is completely legitimate and ethical and responsible. And I am not the first journalist to do that.
And I never said I was an unbiased journalist. I am biased, alright. But my bias is not bought. It is earned through more than 20 years of reporting experience and an entire lifetime of institutional knowledge, an investigative nose as well as hundreds of solid sources I have developed over the years.
Finally, I was an independent voter my entire life and went Democrat last year to vote in the primary, yes for Kristen because I thought she was the best candidate. There shoild be open primaries in Florida. I may register as a Republican if someone good runs against Donna Shalala. And I have plenty of Republican friends who I have supported in the past. And this is not a red or blue issue. There are many Republican sponsors on this bill.
Love, Ladra
Dear Mr. Artiles:
I must take issue with your Sempier Fidelis signature and your departure from those principles. You mention that MDFR union must clean the House. Such union is a bipartisan union of brave men and women that put their lives in danger, like Marines did in Hiroshima. They did not resign from any public duty nor broke lines with American Principles, in shame.
Their bill has been adopted and passed by 46 Legislatures in the United States. Its union president won with a super majority and has not been challenge yet.
In Miami Dade, 5 Republican House members have adopted or cosponsored the bill. In fact, their president is a republican in our home there are no democrats while we believe in the two-party system. A disrespect against one is a disrespect against all, isn’t that the Marine Model?
MDFD 1403 did not endorsed Mr. Guilin, in fact that endorsement was statewide not Miami Dade. They did support one of their own unsuccessful, that should not be the basis of disqualification in a democratic Republic and State.
Italic may be difficult to understand but the principle of fidelity is one that you must apply to every day governance. It will pay volumes.
This article gets down to the facts of what is going on, A bill with Bipartisan support, 82 members of the house have signed on in support, more want to but fear the backlash they were promised by the speaker and lobbyist Frank Artiles if they did. I could counter the statements made by Mr. Artiles in his reply but his statements say it all and show his true colors. He is a bully and the only reason this bill has not been heard is because of the Communistic dictatorship he likes to rule with. He fails to mention the Republicans we supported and were elected. That the Firefighters union is non partisan. This unfunded mandate is minor compared to all the the pet projects he and Oliva have supported in this session and in the past. Worse is this is just our bill. There are a larger number of bills that are going through the process, that are dead on arrival because these two(Oliva and Artiles) will not let the process work as intended. Florida is on track to be the last state to support this type of legislation. 46 other Republican and Democrat run states read the research and support its firefighters. Florida funds the research but because of these 2 we will be last again.
Richard, can you be more specific about other bills that Oliva is holding back? Ladra wants to follow up on this very disturbing trend.
Love, Ladra
I’ll tell you what other bill. How about the “mine blasting” bill? Although he’s a resident of Miami Lakes, Speaker of the House, has the majoritiy in the House and Senate. The bill was never even heard.
Look for bill HB1189.
Mr Artiles I am dignifying you by this response although on my son’s legacy I probably should not. The past is of NO CONSEQUENCE sir to the present lives being affected by cancer. I’m neither “blue nor red” sir and for that matter neither is cancer. It is quite obvious there are some personal issues at play in your stances. I realize the US Army is not the Marine Corps in your view, but as a fellow veteran
we always tell those who have not served “never forget”: I ask you to go back to the past where you stated you supported cancer presumption (you stated this) and step forward for the suffering firefighters and their families and “never forget” them.
One person holding up a favored bill with no cogent argument against it(and please none of this “local” stuff— it has been well documented in 46/50 states now that Montana approved its bill) is illogical, uncaring; cancer is APOLITICAL.
Please sir, let’s place aside the vile attitudes and do the right thing. Not for my son but for those left behind suffering.
Thanks for exposing this important issue, Elaine.
Our firefighters need our support and it’s unbelievable how apparently difficult it is for our elected officials to simply, “do the right thing.”
And there you go, ladies and gentlemen. Frank Artiles admits that this is political payback because the union president supported Democrat candidates.
Is this Cuba, Frank? Is this Venezuela? Aren’t we free to back whoever we want in this country and not worry about political retaliation? You are holding up cancer coverage for firefighters because of a political vendetta?!?
“Elections have consequences” feels like a threat to our freedoms. And “union needs to clean house” feels like blackmail.
I hope people see you for the two-faced bully that you are when you start lobbying for FP&L and whoever else will pay you to do their dirty work. Talk about mercenaries. Nobody pays me to write the truth.
You are not just a racist, you are a liar. Remember when you lied about where you lived when you lived outside your district? (https://politicalcortadito.com/2011/04/18/artiles-lives-outside-district/)
You have always been a fraud.
Sincerely, Ladra
Wow
Great article.So informative
Thank you.
It absolutely amazes me at the level of incompetence and pay to play blogging that is on this blog.
First, since 2013, I sponsored firefighters protection of information which passed when I resigned, I passed a half penny sales tax for palm beach firefighters, CO sponsored the cancer presumption research funding and also received a chiefs axe from the palm beach fire union.
I find it surprising that a liberal like yourself wants TALLAHASSEE to control a local issue. You scream homerule charter and local control at very opportunity. The miami dade county commissioners who are Democrats or left leaning are the ones that are supported by the local MDFD, ask them for cancer presumption. Why haven’t you interviewed the local county commissioners regarding this issue?
Because you are
Not a Reporter, you are a paid mercenary.
If the state of Florida pases it, it is called an unfunded mandate.
MDFD local with union President Omar Blanco is responsible for choosing and backing Gillum for Governor, Ring for CFO, Shawn Shaw attorney general, David Perez (Senate candidate), Ascencio ( your friend which I called a one termer), and many local Democrats over Republicans.
blanco is responsible for leading his union and members down a path that has hurt the union and its members. He should immediately resign, since taking control of the Union, little Fidel, has changed his board to his liking and control. They simply rubber stamp his recommendations. This is simply called bad politics, bad business, and a political neophyte trying to become
Kingmaker. What I find funny is the amount of photos he takes….. talk about vanity.
My brothers that I served with in the Marines are firefighters, I support firefighters and their families. My record speaks for
Itself.
However, elections have consequences and the MDFD fire Union needs to clean house!
Semper Fidelis,
Frank Artiles
If you want to call Frank Artiles just to shame him for being such a bully and POS, his cell phone number is 305-305-2110.
Love, Ladra