Judge: Md. Firefighters Can Campaign For Ambulance Fees

ROCKVILLE, Md. - A Montgomery County judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit seeking to stop county firefighters from campaigning for ambulance fees.
 
Without a 'Yes' vote on 'Question A' -- the ballot measure that would institute ambulance fees -- Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett says he'll have to cut more than 80 firefighter positions and take 11 ambulances out of service.
 
Leggett has put the county's paid firefighters to work lobbying in support of the measure. Uniformed firefighters, at times with equipment, have handed out literature and shown up on the clock at shopping and government centers in what the county calls "an education effort" and what opponents call "electioneering."
 
In making his ruling, Circuit Court Judge Robert A. Greenberg said the plaintiffs -- volunteer firefighters -- failed to file in a timely manner.
 
The judge also said citizens could be as outraged that the county is "crying poverty" while spending taxpayers' money to argue its case.

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