Flight Delays Deal Has Other Sequestration Victims Asking Congress, WTF?

[marmar]

WASHINGTON -- Victims of sequestration lashed out at Congress on Friday, after lawmakers moved swiftly to address long lines at airports while leaving other cuts, primarily those affecting low-income Americans, unaddressed.

"It's perplexing that we're saving programs that are inconveniencing others, but we're not saving programs that are saving lives," said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels, which estimates that, because of sequestration, seniors will be getting 19 million fewer meals.

The bewilderment was prompted by votes Thursday night and Friday morning that granted the Department of Transportation more budget flexibility to deal with the furloughs of 47,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees, including 15,000 flight controllers. Those furloughs had started to take place on Monday. But a swift outcry from consumers forced to endure flight delays, along with attacks from Republicans who placed the blame at the feet of the president, resulted in swift action from lawmakers just before they flew home for recess.

The ability of Congress to move with haste amazed those organizations and advocates who have spent months -- and in some cases, years -- lobbying lawmakers to come to an agreement on a sequestration fix. Cuts affecting their programs and priorities have also taken a toll, often with more severe consequences than tarmac delays. So far, however, their influence peddling has amounted to very little. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/26/flight-delays-congress-sequester_n_3165593.html

[rhett o rick]

1. How long will it take Americans to figure out that Congress is working for the 1%. nm

[Lifelong Protester]

2. +1

I am so disgusted by this- they will act ONLY when they are inconvenienced. But if someone's kid gets kicked of Head Start or someone's granny doesn't get their Meals on Wheels delivery, they don't give a damn.

[thesquanderer]

4. The 1% don't fly commercial.

But these elected officials do.

They don't eat meals on wheels, however.

[rhett o rick]

5. The airline corporations have a lot of pull. More than our seniors. nm

[starroute]

9. The 1% are exactly who do fly commercial

It's the top 1/10 of the 1% who have the private jets. But your average one-percenter making a few hundred thousand a year flies business class and expects to be catered to.

[Skittles]

3. if you aren't IMPORANT ENOUGH you will NOT BE HEARD!!!

WEALTHY PEOPLE FLY A LOT

[lonestarnot]

6. Turdions in congress must be tired of waiting. They've made US all about richie rich, they're only

letting us live here as their slavers.

[Honeycombe8]

7. This infruriates me! Talk about quick action for the ELITE! For an INCONVENIENCE.

That is so, so wrong.

I MUST pay attention to the character of those I vote for in the future. We HAVE to get normal, caring people with common sense in Congress.

[JDPriestly]

8. The Senate was unanimous?

Why didn't the Democrats in the Senate bargain for this?

This is wrong.

How much taxpayer money goes to subsidize airports and airlines?

Homeland security? Who pays for that?

How much would we need if people flew less often?

Shouldn't the cost for airport security be borne by those who fly and by the airlines? The profits from flights are privatized. How about privatizing the costs?

Same for the rest of the airport personnel including the air traffic control employees. Why not privatize their costs. Charge a surtax on tickets to cover the cost of air traffic control instead of using general fund money for it?

This is wrong.

Obama should veto this bill. It's cheating. If sequester, then sequester. If not, then do away with all of the sequester. What a bunch of thieves and cheats.

[bike man]

10. And yet, despite the displeasure voiced by many re legislators and their behavior, those

same legislators who seek reelection will see about a 90% success rate, retaining their jobs for more opportunities to screw with 'we the people'.

[Volaris]

11. At this point, most of this Government DESERVES to be hated...

and that goes DOUBLE for Congress. Public Service MY ASS.

[DCBob]

12. I heard RW talk radio claiming the flight delays were just an Obama trick..

to make the GOP look bad.

[sendero]

13. Maybe after a few more .....

.... of these in-your-face examples, people, here and elsewhere, will get it. Congress is not interested in you if you are not rich, period. DEMOCRATS or Republicans.