Congress Reaches Compromise to Reopen FAA

7 Comments

1. 

   Oui on August 5, 2011 at 6:33 am

   .
   This is my earlier comment …

   FAA furloughs 4,000 workers after funding expires, congressional ‘inaction’

   (The Hill) July 23, 2011 – About 4,000 FAA employees are now furloughed without pay, according to the FAA, as the Senate failed to approve a controversial House-passed extension of taxes that help fund the FAA.

    “The FAA employees who will be furloughed perform critical work for our nation’s aviation system and our economy,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. “These are real people with families who do not deserve to be put out of work during these tough economic times.”

   Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) accused House Republicans of playing politics with the bill.

   “The refusal by the House to extend FAA’s funding authorities is a disservice to the American public and the aviation industry. I am disappointed and stunned by their failure.  We had negotiated in good faith for four months, but when senior members of the House leadership admitted that they would try to gain political `leverage’ over the Senate, they effectively turned the aviation system into a political prop.”

   • FAA could lose $1.5 billion in revenue if Congress does not act

   "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

   • 

     CabinGirl on August 5, 2011 at 7:46 am

     But, deficit reduction is so important, and jobs, jobs, jobs, and they must be really tired from raising the debt ceiling so they need that 5 week vacation that most Americans will never get, right?

2. 

   Oui on August 5, 2011 at 6:39 am

   .

   Congress Off on Vacation. REALLY?

   (ACI-NA Greg’s blog) – Let’s stipulate the two houses disagree about the National Mediation Board issue. Fine. But nothing is going to get done the next five weeks anyway. Why not at least extend the authorization till they get back to town?  No one loses anything, they can resume the fight when they get back. But, as much sense as this makes, they didn’t do it. “REALLY???”

   They didn’t authorize the FAA so 70,000 workers are in danger of losing their jobs building the infrastructure everyone seems to agree we need. “REALLY?????”  

   Cross-posted from Booman’s fp story –  Senate Ready to Cave on FAA  

   "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

3. 

   Oui on August 5, 2011 at 8:37 am

   .

   h/t TomThumbsBlues @ AlterNet

   Closing small airports is one thing, but the idea that workers who don’t vote in a union representation election will have their votes counted as ‘NO’ is the real travesty. The source of this anti-democratic move is Congressman John Mica (R-FL), chair of the House Transport Commmittee who wrote it into the FAA bill. A quick glance at Mica’s contributors tells much. Mica has received $620,000 from the airline industry in his career. OpenSecrets.org reports the airline industry is his top contributer.  

   • FAA Stop Work Orders that have been issued
   • What’s in Rep. Mica’s outline of the House transportation bill?

   "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

   • 

     Don Durito on August 5, 2011 at 1:55 pm

     Instead of jobs, we get union busting and culture wars. Just about what any sane person would have expected.

4. 

   Alice on August 5, 2011 at 9:47 am

   What’s good for business…. etc.

   I imagine the news of shutdowns had a poor effect on ticket sales.  Their rampant greed and aggression may be backfiring at last.

   • 

     Don Durito on August 5, 2011 at 1:54 pm

     Certainly if the GOP-run house had decided to just leave the FAA fallow (and after September they still might), I’ve half-jokingly told my family that we may want to update my will before I take any more business trips.