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Fire codes and the loyalty of Jeb Bush Times Union, Albany, N.Y. on fire codes In the space of a few days, more than 100 people have died in two nightclub disasters that could have - and should have - been prevented. The death toll is tragic. It is also a compelling reason for all states and localities to review their building and fire codes and strengthen them accordingly. Last Thursday night, the Station, a club in West Warwick, R.I., became an inferno in a matter of a few minutes after the heavy metal band Great White set off pyrotechnics on stage. The flames quickly ignited overhead acoustic tiles, but many patrons initially failed to recognize the danger, believing the fire was part of the act. But it wasn't. Worse, it turns out that the club, which was a wooden structure, was not required to have sprinklers because the local fire code mandated them only for clubs with a larger occupancy capacity. But the combination of no sprinklers and wooden construction should have been enough for city and fire officials to have banned any pyrotechnic displays inside. Instead, the decision to approve fireworks appears to have rested with the club owners, who claim the band was never granted permission to use them. But the band says otherwise. ... The death toll in Rhode Island now stands at 97 and will likely go even higher as some of the more seriously burned patrons succumb to their injuries. The number is even more staggering when combined with the Feb. 17 tragedy that claimed the lives of 21 patrons after security personnel sprayed pepper spray to stop a fight at the E2 nightclub in Chicago and caused a panicked rush to the exits. Sadly, it has taken so many deaths to finally prompt local and state officials to do what should have been done as a matter of routine - enforce fire, occupancy and operational codes by shutting down clubs that are in violation. ... The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post on Gov. Jeb Bush's loyalty The National Governors Association is a very exclusive club. Membership is limited to 50, and every one has to win a state election. The members, now split 26-24 between Republicans and Democrats, tend to be all for one and one for all for the good of their states. Except one. Gov. Bush is the club malcontent. Other members generally agree that they need more help from Washington to pay for Medicaid, homeland security and President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" school law. Collectively, states face a $30 billion shortage in this year's budgets and $82 billion next year. Instead of hitting up President Bush for a handout, Gov. Bush says, they should be helping him reform Medicaid and Medicare. Anything else, he preaches, amounts to "big government." That's a pretty bossy attitude to take with 49 people who seem to understand who voted for them and why. It's also premature to make the comment while President Bush's plans are incomplete. He heard that his original ideas won't work and won't fly in Congress. ... President Bush didn't offer more money for Medicaid, which the states administer. Half to three-fourths of the money for the program is federal; the percentage varies by state. Instead, the president offered "flexibility" in spending it. That means: When an elderly woman has to be told to cut her blood pressure medication in half - the example comes from Arkansas' Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee, who said he won't do it - don't blame the president. Blame the 50 governors. One is eager to take the blame. A man will do that for his brother. ... LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -