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Despite making campaign promises to support fire fighters, Governor Bill Ritter has turned his back on us. His promises to the men & women who risk their lives for others have turned out to be no more than empty words designed to deceive us and give fire fighters the illusion that they were voting for a man that truly cared those that perform this dangerous profession. This veto is a rejection of the labor movements core philosophy and robs fire fighters across the state of having a voice in their safety. Collective bargaining has been successful in the largest department in the state, Denver, where the union has twice made sacrifices and concessions to preserve fire safety in tough economic times. Fire fighters in 33 other states enjoy this very basic right, however it is clear that Ritter does not feel that the fire fighters who staff your local fire house and enter into burning builds risking their lives for others deserve such rights. Despite the bill passing through the senate and the house the Governor crushed the bill that he promised fire fighters he would sign during his run for office. Even knowing that this was the number one legislative priority of fire fighters he made only meager attempts to discuss his invalid concerns with the bill. Fire fighters across the state have been shaken and have lost political confidence the Ritter's ability to work on their behalf and his continuing vetoes of bills that preserve the middle class and show any concern for the working people that are the backbone of the state. His actions show his true character.