Philly firefighters union flips Senate endorsement to GOPs Dave McCormick: Tired of political promises

PHILADELPHIA — Sirens are sounding for Sen.Bob Casey’s campaign in Pennsylvania, where the firefighters’ union in deep-blue Philly is ditching the incumbent Democrat and endorsing GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick instead.The union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22, is based in Philly’s industrial Northern Liberties neighborhood and represents more than 4,500 firefighters, paramedics and EMTs.Union leaders announced the endorsement at a press conference with McCormick Wednesday, and explained their decision not to back Casey after endorsing him in his three previous bids for Senate.“Our endorsement decision wasn’t made lightly,” said Local 22 President Mike Bresnan, who noted that a big factor in their decision was Casey’s absence from their communities.

“This election was the first time we ever met Senator Casey in all his years in office,” Bresnan said.McCormick — who was joined by potential future colleague Sen.

Bill Haggerty (R-Tenn.) — thanked the union and vowed to always show up for its members if elected at the presser Wednesday.“Whether it’s our police officers or our firefighters or our first responders, I will fight to ensure that those who put their lives on the line get the resources they deserve,” he said.

“And I feel a kinship — even though I wore a different uniform — to those who are willing to put on the uniform and put their lives at risk,” McCormick added, referring to his Army service during the Gulf War.McCormick charged Casey with supporting sanctuary cities and other open border policies that strain public resources and create difficulties for first responders.Philadelphia, which became a sanctuary city in 2016, has hosted a large portion of the 153,000 illegal immigrants currently estimated to be living in Pennsylvania.“What’s Bob Casey done? He’s essentially supported policies that have made the jobs of these guys a lot tougher,” McCormick said.“He supports liberal prosec...