Video & Transcript Research : 'merit evaluation'
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TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Licensing & Administrative Procedures Mar 11th, 2025
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Transcript Highlights:
- There's going to be some type of extraordinary circumstance that would merit that, perhaps a natural
- And ultimately, they developed the, what they call the sunset Staff evaluation in January 2025.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Elise Stefanik, of New York, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador, and the Representative of the United States of America in the Jan 21st, 2025
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Representative Stefanik, I believe it is reasonable to evaluate every U.N. agency to determine if what
- So it is not completely without merit, but one of the things the Biden administration...
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The third is media literacy,<00:43:53.599>
evaluating <00:43:54.400>information literacy - , evaluating information literacy, evaluating information responsibly<00:43:55.599>
in <00:43:55.839 - Um, I wasn't paying a lot of attention to this bill until today, but I think there's some real merit
- Ethnic studies grants were used to support districts and charters in the development, evaluation, and
- whoever the committee was, re-evaluate whoever the committee was, re-evaluate it<01:20:45.520>
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/20/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Transcript Highlights:
- Madam Chair, I see a lot of merit in research and education, and I would hate to not allow it in this
- I see a lot of merit in research and education and I would hate to not allow it in this program.
Keywords:
water conservation, grants, infrastructure, environmental protection, sustainability, grant fund, Arizona water law, A.R.S. 49-1332, water efficiency, water reuse, education programs, public outreach, rainwater harvesting, gray water, graywater, drought-resistant landscaping, xeriscaping, turf removal, groundwater recharge, aquifer health
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Information Technology Oversight Committee (5-21-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- Again, I am an executive branch non-merit employee. They have no supervisory role over me.
- Again, I I am an executive branch non-merit<00:30:20.520>
employee. - <00:30:21.640>
They <00:30:22.160>have <00:30:22.680>no non-merit employee. - They have no non-merit employee.
- What we referred to as KCNA employees prior was this unique world of what we referred to as not merit
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Report of KCNA Board Meeting 00:00:09
KCNA Transition to COT 00:35:55
KCNA Request for Proposals 00:42:00
Kentucky Wired Operations Company 00:42:30, 958, all
Summary:
The Information Technology Oversight Committee met, approved the January 12, 2026 minutes, and then heard testimony from KCNA Chair David Couch, KCNA Director Jim Barnhart, and KCNA General Counsel Adam Adkins about the ongoing dispute involving KCNA, Excelacom, and the implementation of House Bill 314. Couch said the board and vendor had recently shown some willingness to work toward a settlement, and he emphasized the importance of KCNA’s broadband service to K-12 schools, noting that litigation had already cost about $1.4 million and could cost another $1.4 million if it continued. He also said the board had identified five immediate goals, including reconnecting 38 K-12 sites, de-escalating disputes, better understanding KCNA finances, protecting the state’s bonding rating, and examining whether duplicate networking hardware could be consolidated.
A major portion of the discussion focused on whether House Bill 314 changed KCNA’s authority and how much control the Finance and Administration Cabinet and KCNA’s legal counsel have over operations and contracts. Senator Williams argued that the board now has authority to set policy, implement policy, and approve budgets, and questioned why the cabinet appeared to be exercising operational control. Adkins responded that HB 314 changed the reporting chain from the general government cabinet to the finance cabinet but did not alter the board’s authority, and said budget work on the Ice Miller contract predated HB 314. Couch and other members disputed that interpretation, saying the board had not been properly informed about a recent extension or increase in legal spending and that the board’s directives were not being followed.
Representative Hodgson asked why the board could not terminate a contractor if it was not carrying out the board’s wishes, and Adkins replied that Ice Miller was not a party to the board’s contract and that the Finance and Administration Cabinet signs such agreements. The exchange ended with committee members and KCNA representatives agreeing to disagree on the meaning of the statute and the extent of board authority. No formal action was taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving testimony.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Water Topics Overview Committee Mar 26th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Water Topics Overview Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- For the cost-share policy evaluation, our focus is whether...
- So we assessed each system on its own merits.
- I mentioned nine evaluation criteria, so let's look at them a little bit closer.
- I think, as I mentioned earlier, first we evaluated each system on its own.
- We did a program evaluation, and we've had really good response.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 04/24/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- hear a brief description of the overall bill, and we'll hear some brief testimony on the overall merits
- The overall merits of the bill will get a full vetting in Commerce Committee next week.
- The<00:28:12.600>
uh <00:28:12.680>overall <00:28:13.080>merits <00:28:13.440> - of the bill will The uh overall merits of the bill will get<00:28:14.080>
a <00:28:14.120> - I only have a little over a page on the overall merits of the bill, understanding the jurisdiction here
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Conference Committee on SF1959 5/16/25
Transcript Highlights:
- The merits of this bill in regards to SGU has been a long time coming. It has been 50 years.
- And so I thank you for the honor, for your hard work, and the merit of this bill, and I look forward
- And so I thank you for the honor, for your hard work, and the merit of this bill, and I look forward
- And so I thank you for the honor, for your hard work, and the merit of this bill, and I look forward
- And so I thank you for the honor, for your hard work, and the merit of this bill, and I look forward
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Capital Investment Cmte hears St. Paul bonding requests for sports facility upgrades 3/20/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It's brought vibrancy to Lowertown, and we've done it in a way that we feel is responsible and merits
- <00:04:56.440>
and feel is responsible and and and and feel is responsible and and and and merits consideration <00:04:58.800>of <00:04:58.960>this <00:04:59.120>bill merits- your consideration of this bill merits your consideration of this bill going<00:04:59.800>
forward - to a lot of communities that come before us to ask us for consideration for funding, it's not the merit
PA
Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Jun 30 2026)
Pennsylvania Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Debate is not on the merits of the resolution or the underlying bill.
- The debate is not on the merits of the resolution or the underlying bill.
- The debate is limited to the merits of making it a special order of business, not the debate on the underlying
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then received committee reports from Banking and Insurance and Judiciary. Several leaves of absence were granted, and the chamber took up calendar and procedural motions, including re-referrals and tabling actions on multiple bills. House Bill 1102 and Senate Bill 911 were re-referred to Appropriations, House Bill 96 and Senate Bill 599 were briefly laid on the table and then returned to the calendar, and House Bill 2400 and Senate Bill 746 were also sent to Appropriations. The Senate later agreed to consider a discharge-related motion on minimum wage, but the motion to make it a special order of business failed by a vote of 23-27.
On final passage, Senate Bill 1182 passed 50-0 after Senator Boscola described it as a modernization of the Board of Vehicles Act to address software-based vehicle features, warranty reimbursement, data protections, loaner vehicles, and related dealer/manufacturer issues; she noted amendments had been adopted to address stakeholder concerns. Senate Bill 1334 also passed, 29-21, after the Senate rejected Amendment A44049, which would have exempted certain cardiology technicians from licensing requirements if credentialed and supervised; supporters argued the exemption reflected existing practice and credentialing, while opponents said the bill was needed for patient safety and consistent oversight. Senate Bill 1372 passed 50-0, and House Bill 2426 was re-referred to Appropriations.
The latter part of the session focused heavily on minimum wage and budget timing. Senators Tartaglione, Hughes, and Costa argued Pennsylvania had gone 20 years without raising the minimum wage and urged action on a House-passed minimum wage measure, while Senator Pittman said Republicans were willing to “meet in the middle” but opposed the House proposal as written. Members also discussed the state budget, the rainy day fund, and whether the Senate should remain in session; after debate, Senator Pittman’s motion to recess to the call of the President pro tempore was adopted 27-23, and the Senate stood in recess.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 21, 2026 - 04:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- WOULD BE PULLED FOR REVIEW. 12 MONTHS LATER A VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE DETERMINED THE BOOK ON LITERARY MERIT
- THRESHOLD FOR WHAT CAN BE DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE AND INVITES REMOVAL OF BOOKS REGARDLESS OF EDUCATIONAL MERIT
- THE POSSIBILITY OF REMOVING ANY BOOK DEEMED OBJECTIONABLE FOR ITS LITERARY ARTISTIC OR SCIENTIFIC MERIT
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Those unintended consequences in this bill, I think there's a good argument that there's some merit to
- Those unintended consequences in this bill, I think there's a good argument that there's some merit to
- Those unintended consequences in this bill, I think there's a good argument that there's some merit to
Keywords:
firefighter disability, law enforcement disability, correctional officer disability, correctional probation officer, presumptive disability, workers' compensation, line of duty presumption, heart disease presumption, hypertension presumption, tuberculosis presumption, public safety employees, first responders, physical examination, preemployment exam, medical specialist, Medicare reimbursement, employing agency, Florida Statutes 112.18, Florida Statutes 943.13, occupational disease
Summary:
The committee took up several bills related to public safety, housing, disaster recovery, construction, and land use. SB 330 clarified the heart disease presumption for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, aligned the definition of heart disease with medical practice, and allowed a transferring law enforcement officer to rely on a prior physical if the new agency does not provide one. An amendment stating the act serves an important state interest was adopted, and the bill passed unanimously after supportive testimony from law enforcement and fire groups. SB 594 expanded local housing assistance eligibility to residents of mobile home communities, including SHIP rental assistance for lot rent and rehabilitation/emergency repair programs for the home itself; it also passed unanimously after support from manufactured housing advocates.
SB 840 revised the hurricane-related land use limits enacted in prior legislation by sunsetting certain temporary restrictions on June 30, 2026, narrowing the affected area from 100 miles to 50 miles from a storm track, and exempting certain planning, water, wastewater, stormwater, and flood-related decisions. The sponsor said the bill was intended to fix unintended consequences of prior hurricane recovery legislation, and the measure was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. SB 526 addressed commercial construction projects by prohibiting “no damages for delay” clauses in public construction contracts, directing the Florida Building Commission to create a uniform commercial permit application, requiring permit fee reductions when private providers are used, and adding mitigation to product approval categories; county representatives raised concerns about implementation and fees, but the bill passed favorably.
The committee also approved SB 504 and SB 506, both by Senator Burgess, creating a framework for code inspector body camera use and a related public records exemption for recordings. Both were described as optional for local governments and were reported favorably without opposition. Finally, the committee considered CS/SB 354, a major “blue ribbon projects” bill creating a framework for very large developments that would reserve at least 60% of land for conservation, agriculture, recreation, utilities, and related uses in exchange for streamlined approval and state preemption over local land use controls. The bill drew extensive testimony both for and against, with supporters emphasizing housing supply and land preservation and opponents warning about local control, sprawl, infrastructure costs, and weak conservation protections. Two amendments were adopted to define reserve areas more specifically and address conservation easements, and the committee reported the bill favorably on a divided vote, with Senator Passidomo voting no.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee Jul 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I think there's a lot of merit to this proposal.
- yeah some member Alvarez thank you and thank you for your work on this I think it's there's a lot of merit
- to this proposal I'm just trying to understand from the A lot of merit to this proposal.
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced several natural resources and water-related bills. SB 224 by Senator Hurtado would require the Department of Water Resources to implement audit recommendations, improve climate-informed water supply forecasting, and provide annual updates to the Legislature; supporters emphasized the need for better transparency and more accurate water planning, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 556, also by Senator Hurtado, would fund floodplain restoration in the Tulare Basin to reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide habitat and other community benefits; local officials and conservation groups supported it, some initial concerns about Proposition 4 were resolved, and the bill passed as amended. SB 630 by Senator Allen would streamline State Parks and other state real property acquisitions by raising review thresholds and reducing duplicative approvals; conservation groups and park advocates supported the measure, while some members raised oversight and fiscal concerns, and it passed as amended. SB 718 by Senator Allen would reduce hunting and fishing license costs for low-income Californians, framed as helping subsistence users and disabled veterans and seniors, and it passed as amended.
The committee also approved SB 427 by Senator Blakespear, which extends the sunset of the Habitat Conservation Fund from 2030 to 2035. Supporters said the fund has protected more than 1.2 million acres, leverages other funding, and supports habitat, recreation, and climate resilience; members highlighted its importance for areas like the Salton Sea and the need to protect the funding stream from future sweeps. SB 586 by Senator Jones, an e-moto off-highway vehicle bill, was taken up with little discussion and passed as amended. SB 639 by Senator Ashby would extend the deadline for Sacramento-area flood protection projects in the Natomas Basin and Beach Lake subareas from 2025 to 2030 to allow completion of remaining work and avoid delays to infill housing; city, county, and flood agency representatives supported it, and it passed as amended.
Throughout the hearing, witnesses and members repeatedly emphasized water reliability, flood protection, conservation funding, and reducing bureaucratic delays. Several bills drew broad support from local governments, water agencies, tribes, and conservation organizations, and multiple members requested to be added as coauthors. All of the measures discussed were reported out of committee, generally with amendments and with some items left open for add-on votes.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
May 2, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- But again, I think this particular proposal has some merit, but in my personal opinion, I think that
- One of the thoughts is I listen to all of the proposals, and there's definitely merit to all of them
- One of the thoughts is I listen to all of the proposals, and there's definitely merit to all of them
Summary:
The Select Committee on Property Taxes held its first meeting with opening remarks from the co-chairs and ranking member framing the committee’s task as developing property tax legislation for next session. Staff then gave a high-level overview of Florida property taxes, explaining how ad valorem taxes work, the roles of property appraisers, tax collectors, taxing authorities, value adjustment boards, and the Department of Revenue, and reviewing key concepts such as just value, assessed value, exemptions, taxable value, millage rates, homestead exemptions, Save Our Homes, and portability. The presentation also emphasized that property tax law is largely rooted in the Florida Constitution and that local governments choose millage rates, which affects collections. No public comment was taken.
The committee then discussed five Speaker-proposed concepts. Proposal 1 would require cities, counties, and special districts to hold a referendum on eliminating property taxes on homestead properties; members raised concerns about local funding, public safety, special districts, renters, and the need for extensive voter education, with some suggesting countywide elections or town halls instead. Proposal 2 would create a new $500,000 homestead exemption for non-school taxes and a $1 million exemption for seniors 65+ or long-term homesteaders; members split between seeing it as meaningful relief for seniors and warning it could devastate local tax bases, especially in lower-value or rural counties, while also potentially trapping older homeowners in place. Proposal 3 would authorize the Legislature to raise homestead exemptions by general law; some liked the flexibility, but others worried about statewide one-size-fits-all impacts, political difficulty in reversing changes, and the need for local revenue replacement. Proposal 4 would change assessment caps for homestead and non-homestead property; several members said it would not provide enough relief and could shift burdens to rental properties and non-homestead owners. Proposal 5, eliminating foreclosure on homestead property for tax liens, drew the strongest opposition, with members saying it would undermine lien priority, mortgage and title systems, and incentives to pay taxes.
Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly stressed the need to understand local fiscal impacts, including police, fire, infrastructure, and other services funded by property taxes, and to consider alternative revenue sources or offsets if taxes are reduced. The co-chairs said the committee is still in the information-gathering stage, that all ideas remain on the table, and that members should do “homework” by meeting with local taxing authorities and learning how property taxes are set and spent in their districts. The meeting ended with no votes on the proposals and adjournment after a motion to rise.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Based on its merits.
- Not based on non-merits factors like the expense and trouble and uncertainty of litigation.
- nation by waiting until we've granted a petition for review before we make the parties pay for full merits
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Water Topics Overview Committee Mar 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And now we'll walk through the summary of the cost-share program policy evaluation.
- So now we'll transition to the governance and finance study that evaluates..."
- I mentioned nine evaluation criteria, so let's look at them a little bit closer.
- First, we evaluated each system on its own; we didn't compare systems against systems.
- We did a program evaluation, and we've had really good response.
Summary:
The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and received updates from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Commission, followed by presentations from Deloitte on two legislative studies required by House Bill 1020. Director Reese Haas reviewed major project and budget updates, including the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, Resources Trust Fund balances, carryover spending, project prioritization, bid conditions, regional water system coverage, and department process improvements. Members also discussed how the commission prioritizes projects, maintenance expectations, and the impact of limited municipal water supply funding. No formal committee action was taken during the DWR update; the commission’s municipal funding decisions were described as pending its April 8 meeting.
Deloitte then presented the cost-share policy study, which found that under current policy and forecasted revenues, North Dakota faces an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years, with a near-term gap of about $1.8 billion through 2031. The firm outlined seven recommended options, including tighter definitions and a 25% cost share for eligible replacement projects, caps and financing strategies for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, aligning cost share with commission priority guidance, delaying lower-priority projects, using available lines of credit, and adjusting reimbursement timing for revolving loan funds. Committee members questioned inflation assumptions, affordability, user fees, and the use of legacy fund earnings for bonding, but no decisions were made.
In the governance and finance study, Deloitte said final recommendations are still being refined, with a final report due May 29. The study examined the Southwest Pipeline, NAWS, and Red River Valley systems using governance and finance criteria such as decision authority, transparency, affordability, risk, and access to funding. For Southwest, Deloitte outlined options ranging from improved state-authority coordination to transferring ownership to the Southwest Water Authority; for NAWS, options focused on strengthening the authority’s role and potentially transitioning operations and maintenance; and for Red River, options ranged from enhanced facilitation to formal state oversight or state ownership. Members asked follow-up questions about ownership transfer, capital repayment streams, and why NAWS was not considered for transfer, and Deloitte said NAWS’s limited organizational maturity made that option less viable in the near term.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Sep 2nd, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Speak to the merits of the resolution. Thank you.
- Please speak to the merits of this bill. Oh, I am. Mr. DeMaio, you're out of order.
- Please speak to the merits of this legislation. You're out of order.
- Please speak to the merits of this legislation.
- Because you know what I'm saying has merit, and you're afraid that Californians will actually hear it
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a busy floor session with several procedural motions and bill actions. Members suspended rules to allow speeches and guests, withdrew AB 362 from Appropriations to the second reading file, and voted 41-13 to suspend the rules for that motion. The body also took up a number of items on the daily and third reading files, with several measures passed, retained, or moved to inactive file.
The main policy focus was ACR 70, designating September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Assembly Member Pellerin presented the resolution with a personal account of losing her husband to suicide and urged greater use of 988, secure firearm storage, and open conversations about mental health. Many members from both parties and caucuses spoke in support, sharing personal experiences with suicide and emphasizing stigma reduction, access to care, and the importance of checking in on others. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, Senate amendments were concurred in, and suicide awareness pins were distributed to members.
The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 977 on Native American human remains, with unanimous support and a 68-0 vote, and to AB 1510, the Assembly PERS Committee bill, which passed 66-1. Members then adopted H.R. 65, recognizing October as Filipino American History Month, after extensive remarks celebrating Filipino American history, labor organizing, public service, and community contributions; 63 co-authors were added without objection before the voice vote. Later, the chamber passed SB 81, protecting access to health care facilities from immigration enforcement, and SB 98, requiring schools and campuses to notify communities when immigration enforcement is present; both were framed as part of a broader package to protect immigrant communities and passed on urgency votes. The session concluded with debate on SJR 9, a resolution condemning mass immigration raids and defending civil liberties, which drew sharply divided remarks from supporters and opponents, with no final action shown in the transcript excerpt.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-24 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Florida Memorial University would strengthen the council's ability to conduct in-depth research, evaluate
- Education, the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, and other relevant stakeholders, to evaluate
- coordinators and mental health coordinators must provide information to OPAGA for reporting and evaluation
- Initial review and evaluation shall be reported by December 31, 2025, and final review and annual evaluation
- And so my question is, is it a recruitment bonus, or could it also be a merit bonus?
Summary:
The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions and introductions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then took up a motion to reconsider the prior day’s failed vote on CS for SB 1080 (local government land regulation), which was adopted without objection, and moved into the special order calendar.
A series of bills were debated and mostly passed, often after substituting House companions. Measures approved included funding for expedited DNA testing grants, additional aggravating factors in capital cases, fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients, commuter rail indemnification, migrant vessel disposition, specialty license plates, an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign, relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter school changes, sexual offender registration updates, utility worker assault/battery penalties, juvenile justice revisions, student mental health outcome reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School changes, school readiness resources for children with disabilities, sexual images/child exploitation penalties, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county tax collector/property appraiser employees. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, benefits for certain officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and brownfields.
Debate centered on public safety, health care access, education, recovery housing, and government administration. Some of the most substantive discussion came on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered and defeated after extended debate over election-related communications and the proper scope of existing ethics laws. The certified recovery residences bill also drew extensive support and testimony about addiction recovery and housing stability. Most bills passed on strong bipartisan votes, with a few receiving notable opposition, including the charter schools bill, the aggravating factors bill, and the Office of Faith and Community bill.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- believe that the pro se convicted person might have a meritorious claim, but weren't able to fully evaluate
- And so what it does, it basically introduces a comprehensive framework for evaluating evidence. the court
- HB 413 makes a narrow exception for defendants undergoing mental health evaluations or court-ordered
- when they talk about the hallmarks of youth. because it was pulled out of thin air about how we evaluate
- We have several witnesses here, both for and against, who I think can adequately discuss the merits of
Keywords:
animal cruelty, nonlivestock, prosecution, veterinary defense, animal welfare, aggravated assault, penal code, public servant, deadly weapon, mass shooting, Penal Code, penalties, felony, Texas Penal Code, felony enhancement, first-degree felony, second-degree felony, violent crime, assault punishment, serious bodily injury
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, April 23, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I think the firefighters merit the pay. They earn the pay.
- Again, I think the TSA officers merit<02:25:21.920>
more. - merit more. This is a starting point. merit more. This is a starting point.
- They earn this officers merit this pay.
- I think the firefighters merit the pay.