Han Solo wants the air-traffic control towers kept open

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) A plan to close 149 air-traffic control towers has galvanized opposition like few other moves under U.S. automatic budget cuts, uniting lawmakers with businesses, unions and an advocacy group with Harrison Ford in its corner.

The fight, involving about $40 million of this year’s $85 billion in cuts in a process known as sequestration, reflects how broadly the proposed closings cut across rural districts represented by lawmakers who, regardless of party affiliation, are elected to serve local interests. Thirty-eight of the 50 U.S. states would be affected by the closings.

“You try to shut down the towers, and you’re going to have a fight on your hands,” said Scott Lilly, a former Democratic staff director of the House Appropriations Committee and now a fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington.

Lilly and other analysts say the tenacious response offers a glimpse of what’s to come, as the impact of sequestration affects other programs with their own strong supporters. The automatic cuts are the penalty agreed to by President Barack Obama and Congress in failed debt-reduction talks. ......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-17/harrison-ford-joins-congress-in-revolt-on-tower-closings.html

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Sigh....

Then they need to take it up with Cheeto.