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LCCC hosts IT recruiter from Geisinger Health Systems

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Finding new home wasn’t likely for Harris Pond gator

<p>NORTHMORELAND TWP. &#8212; Connor Jenkins never met a member of the U.S. Congress before Monday.</p><p>That changed when he gave a personal tour to U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta. He showed Barletta around the Northmoreland Township Volunteer Fire Company headquarters, from the bunkhouse to the fire apparatus in the garage. Jenkins, 16, is a junior volunteer firefighter for the township.</p><p>&#8220;It was definitely something different,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Before the tour, Barletta, PA-11, met with fire chiefs and junior firefighters from Northmoreland, Kunkle Fire Company, and Triton Hose companies. He discussed his legislation to protect volunteer fire companies from the Affordable Healthcare Act, also known as Obamacare.</p><p>Barletta explained that, under the tax code, volunteer firefighters are classified as employees because they are funded workers&#8217; compensation. As a result, fire companies approached Barletta about whether or not they would be required to either provide the firefighters with health insurance or pay a $3,000 fine.</p><p>&#8220;If volunteer fire companies had to provide health insurance to their volunteer firefighters, it would close firehouses down all across the country,&#8221; he said, adding the $3,000 fine would also be damaging.</p><p>Barletta explained that shortly before he drafted legislation to exempt volunteer fire companies, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) declared they would be exempt.</p><p>Barletta, however, said he wanted to make it law &#8220;so that the IRS can&#8217;t change their mind a month from now, or a year from now or two years from now.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta said the bill has died in the Senate three times, but he vowed to push it a fourth time.</p><p><strong>A new generation</strong></p><p>Jenkins, who admitted he is not fully aware of the Obamacare issue, has been a volunteer for two and a half years.</p><p>He marks the fifth generation of his family to enter the profession.</p><p>&#8220;It goes all the way back to my great-great-grandfather,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I just wanted to join because my grandfather was a part of this fire company. There&#8217;s three generations of my family here.&#8221;</p><p>Jenkins was one of about 20 junior firefighters who listened to Barletta speak. Barletta thanked them for not only attending, but for doing what they do for the community.</p><p>Jim Gilpin, president of the volunteer fire company, put the next generation&#8217;s importance into perspective.</p><p>&#8220;The older people are getting older,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s great to have a young bunch coming in to train and take our place.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Junior firefighter Connor Jenkins, left, leads a tour of the Northmoreland Volunteer Fire Company for U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta on Monday morning.   Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL082515BarlettaFire_3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Junior firefighter Connor Jenkins, left, leads a tour of the Northmoreland Volunteer Fire Company for U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta on Monday morning.   Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><videoMeta><p><table class="mceItemTable" style="border:none;width:98%;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoID:</td><td id="videoid" style="width:50em;font-size:90%;"> jF8IQ4k8_Xo</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">VideoType:</td><td id="videotype" style="font-size:90%;"> YOUTUBE</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">URL:</td><td id="url" style="font-size:90%;"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF8IQ4k8_Xo</td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Embed String:</td><td id="videoembedstring" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Caption:</td><td id="videocaption" style="font-size:90%;"> U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta visited local volunteer fire companies to discuss the affect of Obamacare on fire companies.</p><p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Credit:</td><td id="videocredit" style="font-size:90%;"> Travis Kellar</p><p></td></tr><tr><td style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;vertical-align:top;text-align:right;border:none;">Video Position:</td><td id="videoposition" style="font-size:90%;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="margin-top:10px;font-size:70%;color:#555;">(use the &#8220;for files&#8230;&#8221; link above to associate attached files with this source)</p></videoMeta></div>

Barletta talks to local fire companies about Obamacare