Reid: Congress Reaches Deal to End FAA Shutdown
- Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:08pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Congress has reached a bipartisan compromise to end the two-week partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration that has idled 74,000 federal employees and construction workers and cost the government about $30 million a day in uncollected airline ticket taxes, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Thursday.
The deal would allow the Senate to approve a House bill extending the FAA’s operating authority through mid-September, including a provision that eliminates $16.5 million in air service subsidies to 13 rural communities. Passage of the bill is expected Friday. Senators have scattered for their August recess, but the measure can be approved if leaders from both parties agree to adopt it by “unanimous consent.”
Republicans had insisted on the subsidy cuts as their price for restoring the FAA to full operation. But the cuts may become moot.
The bill includes language that gives Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood the authority to continue subsidized service to the 13 communities if he decides it’s necessary.
“Only LaHood can decide how he will use his waiver authority,” said Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Reid.
But Democrats said they expect the administration to effectively waive or negate the cuts.
“I just know that the White House has provided assurances that they (the communities) will be held harmless,” said a Senate Democratic leadership aide who asked not to be named because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the deal.
The shutdown began when much of Washington was transfixed by the stalemate over raising the government’s debt ceiling. During that time, the FAA furloughed 4,000 workers but kept air traffic controllers and most safety inspectors on the job. Forty airport safety inspectors worked without pay, picking up their own travel expenses. Some 70,000 workers on construction-related jobs on airport projects from Palm Springs, Calif., to New York City were idled as the FAA couldn’t pay for the work.
But airline passengers in the busy travel season hardly noticed any changes. Airlines continued to work as normal, but they were no longer authorized to collect federal ticket taxes at a rate of $30 million a day. For a few lucky ticket buyers, prices dropped. But for the vast majority, nothing changed because airlines raised their base prices to match the tax.
Some passengers will now be eligible for tax refunds if they bought their tickets before July 23 and their travel took place during the shutdown.
As the debt ceiling crisis passed and Congress headed home for its August recess without resolving the standoff, President Barack Obama spoke out Wednesday and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urged Congress to return to deal with the issues. Obama expressed dismay that Congress would allow up to $1.2 billion in tax revenue to go out the door – the amount that could have been lost by the time lawmakers return in September.
Reid announced the deal Thursday afternoon, saying it would put 74,000 transportation and construction workers back to work.
“This agreement does not resolve the important differences that still remain. But I believe we should keep Americans working while Congress settles its differences, and this agreement will do exactly that,” Reid said.
Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma won’t attempt to block passage of the bill when it comes up on Friday, spokesman John Hart said. Coburn blocked several attempts by Democrats to pass an extension bill without the subsidy cuts.
“The delay was the result of members wanting to protect their parochial interests,” Hart said in an email.
The partisan standoff that led to the shutdown began last month when Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, signaled his intention to attach the subsidy cuts to a bill to extend FAA’s operating authority through mid-September. The agency has been operating under a series of 20 short-term extensions since 2007, when the last long-term FAA funding bill expired.
Senate Democrats complained that Republicans were breaking precedent by using an extension bill to enact policy changes that hadn’t been agreed upon. Even Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas called the measure a “procedural hand grenade.” Senators refused to pass the House bill, saying to do so would be giving into legislative blackmail and inviting Republicans to up the ante on the next extension bill.
Obama, who had scolded Congress on Wednesday for not solving the standoff, expressed relief.
“I’m pleased that leaders in Congress are working together to break the impasse involving the FAA so that tens of thousands of construction workers and others can go back to work,” Obama said in a statement. “We can’t afford to let politics in Washington hamper our recovery, so this is an important step forward.”
Both the House and Senate passed long-term funding bills for the FAA earlier this year, but negotiations on resolving differences and finalizing those bills are stalemated. The biggest holdup is a labor provision in the House long-term bill. Republicans want to overturn a National Mediation Board rule approved last year that allows airline and railroad employees to form a union by a simple majority of those voting. Under the old rule, workers who didn’t vote were treated as “no” votes.
“The House has made it clear that the anti-worker piece is a priority for them and they also put us on notice that they don’t intend to give in. So we are bracing for a new fight in September,” said Vince Morris, a spokesman for Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of a committee that oversees FAA.
Last month, in comments to the House Rules Committee and separately to reporters, Mica said the labor provision was the only issue standing in the way of the House and Senate reaching an agreement on a long-term FAA bill. He said Reid, D-Nev., has refused to negotiate with Republicans on the issue.
“There is only one issue – have I not been clear? It’s up to Mr. Reid,” Mica told the committee. He added that including the subsidy cuts to the extension bill “forces the Senate’s hand to act.”
Mica has said that he’s willing to take provisions from the long-term bill and attach them to future extensions to achieve the policy changes the GOP lawmakers want.
Democrats said they worried that if they give in to Republicans on relatively small items like the subsidy cuts, Republicans will be encouraged to demand concessions on the next extension bill, such as the labor provision.
Democrats and union officials say the proposed labor change puts airline and railroad elections under the same democratic rules required for unionizing all other companies. But Republicans say the new rule reverses 75 years of precedent to favor labor unions.
The GOP labor provision has the backing of the airline industry. The biggest beneficiary would be Delta Air Lines, the largest carrier whose workers aren’t primarily union members.
Communities targeted for the proposed air service subsidy cuts are Morgantown, W.Va.; Athens, Ga.; Glendive, Mont.; Alamogordo, N.M.; Ely, Nev.; Jamestown, N.Y.; Bradford, Pa.; Hagerstown, Md.; Jonesboro, Ark.; Johnstown, Pa.; Franklin/Oil City, Pa.; Lancaster, Pa.; and Jackson, Tenn.
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Comments (55)
miles from nowhere
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 12:31amWe need to shut down congress for a year and see what we save.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 8:09amRush did a great segment on this “Crisis”. This “DEMOCRAT ” crisis of the day, was about some rural airport’s that reported something like .2 , yes , POINT 2, passengers per day, many flights being made with NO PASSENGERS. This is DEMOCRAT economics at it’s finest. Harry ‘s economics. Barry’s economics
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 12:10amRepublicans had insisted on the subsidy cuts as their price for restoring the FAA to full operation. But the cuts may become moot.
What good are these RINOS???? The answer can not be printed.
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:37pmI’m so tired of the democrats increasing the power of unelected officials.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 6:30amHow about ‘increasing numbers” ….ole’ Harry said 74,000 construction jobs stopped….reports say correct number is around 24,000……..
Report Post »tranymike
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:36pmBradford, Pa, Johnstown, Pa.; Franklin/Oil City, Pa.; Lancaster, Pa bye bye this is what happens when your blue state goes red. life in pa is getting better by the day and we can shoot people that brake in are houses and they can’t sue i love my new red state.
ronpaul2012
Report Post »tankyjo
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:18pmGuess how many rural airport subsidies go to Nevada?
Report Post »HKS
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:39amI would say a lot, I was just there and saw more road and airport construction than I have ever seen in one place.
Report Post »ladyda
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:53pmIf any of the D.C. crowds use the tiny airports, which are subsidized over 3,400 each use will find a way to keep the money flowing, money is no object to a Marxist/Socialist economic illiterate.
As for the Unions, if this “card check” passes, Thugs will threaten those who would vote in opposition, causing them not to vote at all so the Unions will be assured success for what ever scheme they plan, driving yet another business into ruin. Communist schmucks!
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:59pmI like you, LadyDA.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:01pmHey Reid! Yer still walkin‘ and talkin’? Crawl off somewhere and die, will ya? You flamin’ jack azz …
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:53pm“two-week partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration ”
Hmm…how’s airline safety, service, and customer satisfaction been in that time? Just curious….
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:50pmI knew the republicans would fold like a wet blanket…it was a waste of time to elect them
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 8:38amStop whining, go out and elect some Conservative Tea Party candidate’s . You sound like a DEMOCRAT when you whine. NOV 2012 is the goal. We just started the Tea Party Revolution
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:49pmThis can’t be legal. If it is then we have no republic, we have no government and we have no rights, only a tyranny of the ‘Ruling Class’. If Dingy Harry can just ignore what is passed by the house and make it law and La
Report Post »Hood can just add in the cuts the house made, do we have any government left? Are we reaching the point of dysfunction noted in the constitution? If both parties had to agree, did Boehner and McConnell agree to this and the provision to ignore it? If so, they both need to be replaced, both will sell us down the river in debt talks. They will put liberal Neocons on the committee and the both must be replaced as party leaders and the need to primary these ‘weak Willies’ has become obvious.
Cheetosareus
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:48pmReid was sitting on that bill the house passed before they recessed. There were actually two bills…one for the short term and one for the long term. Reid didn’t like either one so he tabled them and let the President furlough the FAA workers…and then cleverly blamed the Republicans for it..calling them terrorists and hostage takers. I am so sick of Reid. He is not as clever as he believes himself to be. Republicans better get the message out about the truth of the matter. All the pawns in the democrats strategy better wake up. It has already cost them.
Report Post »clingingtogodandguns
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:48pmWe didn’t send you their to go along and get along.We sent you their to cut this way too big a@s govm’t.So this is $4500.00 of our tax dollars Per ticket out of these little bitty airports.Either drive to your nearest airport or move.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:50pmOr hitch hike with Nancy – ooops forgot—
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:46pmHarry Weed could have passed this weeks ago… It’s been on his desk all along.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:45pmRush Limbaugh talked about this today. Says it really had to do with “Card Check”.
Report Post »http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_080411/content/01125115.guest.html
EZDOZIT
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:42pmThe dems are just protecting the unions that gives them kickbacks. The democrats wants to take away republicans campaign $ from oil companies, by taking away their tax breaks. The oil companies will pass this differance on to consumers. Only the dems win. The trial lawyers gives 600% more $ to demsocrats than the oil co. give to the republicans. This is the game the parties play, taking away the campaign $ from each others donors. The republicans suck at this game.
Report Post »tranymike
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:41pmhahahaha johnstown pa home of the late but not missed sen. murtha witch took fed funding to build a airport for himself and 5 other people that fly out of there a day. because they didn’t want to drive 55 miles to pittsburgh. at that fine airport you can fly to pittsburgh or D.C. thats it billions of tax payers money and you can only go two places. but fat a$$ murtha could drive 5 mins from house to airport get on plane with no line fly to D.C. vote to sale the US out and make it back home befor dinner and that is a fine democrat/dictator http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lyyD1fboRM
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:41pmEnd the union dues tax loophole, it’s a job killer
Report Post »darkrage000
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 12:51amNeed to end the Unions, PERIOD
Report Post »ezeewhiz
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:40pmLike the elephants didn’t smell this coming! If in this exceptional country we can watch the judication of our citiizens live on Court TV in court pleading for fairness. . Prey tell where is the transaparency for us all to watch live the BS that goes on in Washington?
Report Post »Shiroi Raion
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:39pmFrom the pic, it looks like Reed was impressed by Obama’s Mussolini pose and has decided to turn his nose up in the air too.
Report Post »johnannegalt
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:45pmThe Tea Party won NOTHING, despite how the RINOs and left would like to swing it. They merely need a scapegoat, and we’re it.
(if you like Braveheart, this article will make sense).. “There was no compromise in this debate; one side prevailed, but it wasn’t the Tea Party. In a betrayal reminiscent of the movie Braveheart, when the Scottish nobility deserted the field, abandoning William Wallace to defeat, Republican leaders likewise abandoned the Tea Party, not for compromise, but in infamy by betrayal and surrender for the sake of their own hides.” –Mark America
We need to stand with our modern day William Wallace, folks.
http://markamerica.com/2011/08/04/abandoned-on-the-field-as-the-nobles-surrender/
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:38pmWell, the Repubs bent over and grabbed their ankles once again. Why can’t we stand our ground for once. As it has been revealed, the Repubs lost out big time on the debt limit deal. Boehner sold us out! When will we ever learn that we must get down the Dems infantile level before we ever get anything. To hell with taking the high road; it doesn’t get us anywhere.
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:36pmIt cost a lot of money to stop a construction job at the convenience of the government. The government will have to pick up the cost of re-mobilization of work crews. I also heard a story about a roof repair job that was stopped in the middle of the job. The roof had to be temporarily closed to preserve water tightness and air conditioning. The government will, no doubt, be billed for that expense as well. The government could also be on the hook for acceleration costs to keep pre-existing agreements with vendors and installation contractors. The FAA uses a lot of small contractors and some big ones too but this is no way to run a safety based organization.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:35pm.
Now they need to reach a deal to shut down the TSA……
“Don’t Grope Me Bro!”…………..
Report Post »Patrick in AZ
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:25pmSenators have scattered for their August recess, but the measure can be approved if leaders from both parties agree to adopt it by “unanimous consent.”
Report Post »———————————–
So now they aren’t even voting on laws?
Chappy123
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:22pmHe got that worked out. How much is left now?
Report Post »@ Coyote2
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:21pmThat Harry is one intellygent looker!!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:20pmThe antithesis of Democrat is honesty. They are so busy fornicating the taxpayers we do not even realize a Rino is sodomizing us.
Oh please, I hope our country survives until 2012 so that we can throw these bastards out with the rest of the trash in DC
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:36pmWell said!
Report Post »johnannegalt
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:46pmLOL- you’re exactly right! Rush Limbaugh said earlier ” I want to get a proctologist in here to analyze the liberals because they’re ANAL about taxing and sepdning, and they’re acting like hemmorhoids!!”
Report Post »