John - that is a pretty weak “whataboutism” responce to a valid question. Every position, on just about everything, can get “whatabout - ed” . Doesn’t add anything to the discussion, and is a bit dimissive. Is KP the best use of the money spent there is an honest question, worth a more specific and reasoned responce. If you chose to respond.
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This isn’t whataboutism. It’s about focus.
There are serious and specific government agencies we SHOULD be fighting to close. But we are a very small contingent. Every bit of effort we expend on each other is energy we aren’t spending to shut down significantly more wasteful government programs that do us real harm.
I understand the AMO has created some type of licensing program for engineers? Not like a Federal or State Maritime School where you get the degree and license, strictly the license. That’s a good start. Anyone have legit insight into that program?
Tell me more.
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Not this time
As mentioned we are keeping this close to the vest to avoid the friendly fire firefight that inevitably breaks out amongst mariners
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Arguing that closing KP in its present form is infighting or self destructive is a specious response. A far better use of the facility and its budget is to drop the “federal academy” quasi military facade and use both the facility and the money to train and develop established American mariners.
One scam at a time, John. Little old me lacks the time and will to tilt at all the DC windmills. One windmill at a time, John, and in my opinion KP is a real whirligig.
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Although I retired in 2018, I remember being pretty butt-sore about losing the “misc employee expenses” available in prior years. Even after the Marty Kapp BS, being able to claim travel expenses to and from the ships, and “incidentals” from per diem, as well as internet expenses [AMO job board], provided some kind of relief.
I think it’s 171 million a year for the MSP and 191 million a year for KP.
Yeah the best thing MARAD could do for this industry is close KP and use the 191 million a year to double to MSP program. its a no brainer.
State academies could increase enrollment cough cough Cal Maritime and fill the void.
KP is a waste of money when states and the federal government are also funding state academies.
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But that’s exactly the deal with the devil we have made for decades.
Government says if they close x maritime they will use money to fund y maritime.
Govenment closes x and doesn’t nothing about y
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The MEBA’s political action fund/ lobbying arm said said they are working to get language into the next big tax bill that would include language that exempt federal taxes on wages for merchant mariners.
They mentioned it is going to be hard to get the language for coastwise ships but it sounded promising for foreign going vessels.
Not sure the specific details but hopefully it can happen. Anything is better than the current taxes we face.
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Well that’s a joke.
What’s the percentage of US sailors on foreign going ships? It’s not much.
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We pay the same taxes as everybody else. What makes the ones on foreign going container ships more worthy than the ones on Jones Act tankers who work 10x as hard?
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Yes. It started with Representative Mike Watlz’s Navy liaison and a few of us. Then Kelly started working on a senate version. The unions were invited to review the draft a few months ago. SIU and AMO took the lead. MM&P was there. MEBA dragged their feet a bit but I think they came aboard eventually.
I could go on for hours about how much of the PAF money goes to waste and how we just need people to sit down and write laws but…
I’m not saying one is more worthy or not. I’m saying the legal wording might be easier to achieve for one of over the other.
Yes we as mariners pay the same taxes as everyone else but don’t get to enjoy the same benefits. We don’t get to drive on the same roads we pay for, etc etc etc
Any tax break is better than not having one @New3M dont you agree?
Maybe achieving one sector will led to a tax break in the future for the other!
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you just prooved my point. Thanks!
Exactly…western river guys doing amazing stuff every day making/breaking tow, shooting bridges going downriver, encyclopedic knowledge of the river; Lake guys making 3 docks/day in ice/snow/spring fog and running 24/7 with crews 2/3 the size of 30 years ago…yeah, tax breaks for ALL mariners better be it or the infighting WILL be bloody.
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No no, the APL 3M making 150k a year with no cargo responsibilities needs that tax break more.
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There are already tax breaks for transportation workers in the code. The problem is the IRS has very strict definitions of who qualifies for them.
I don’t know the details on all the potential break but I remember a bunch of guys were taking per diem deductions and the state of Maine petitioned the irs to say we didn’t qualify
That’s just one example
Congress telling the IRS to back off
These are the types of practical things your political action funds should be paying for but instead most go into gala dinners and dozens of “support the jones act” organizations that pay their non profit executives eye popping salaries
So, as usual, you’re lying. Trying to become Trump’s Transportation Secretary?
Lol. Are you talking about the same APL that has two 3Ms and gets barely any OT.
Maybe you are talking about the 150k for 8 months or a ship with APL I have never heard of.
Deepsea containerships shouldn’t have two 3m it’s just a way for MMP to line its pockets with more money. And people are surprised why there are no people going to Cal Maritime. You can’t live on those wages and live in California. Just wait MMP wants Mearsk ships to have two 3Ms. This will exasperate the shortage as people realize the wages for entry 3M aren’t great.
2 third mates for coastwise tankers YES for those APL ships going across the pacific that’s a big NO.