Senate plan to end FAA shutdown falls apart

[The Straight Story]

Senate plan to end FAA shutdown falls apart

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A bipartisan Senate plan to end the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration has fallen apart as the cost to the government and to workers mounts.

Senators said the collapse of the plan late Monday means Congress could leave town for its August recess without resolving the shutdown, now in its second week.

That would leave the issue hanging until Congress returns in September. Senators said the government will lose about $1.2 billion in uncollected airline ticket taxes.

The Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House are at odds of over proposals to cut rural air service subsidies and change federal labor law to make it more difficult for airline workers to unionize.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AVIATION_SHUTDOWN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-08-01-19-29-58

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Matters not. House already adjourned and went home for 5 weeks.

After all, its only 4,000 people and they preserved tax benefits for airlines (et al) and billionaires. Mission Accomplished and all that.

[Big Blue Marble]

2. So it is a microcosms of what we just experienced.

This will happen over and over until most of our valuable protections and safety net are gone.

When will the American people understand that their political system is failing them?

[napi21]

3. I think the FAA should just shut down completely! That means no airplanes fly

from anywhere! That means tht all those congressmen who want to campaign and fly around to meet with their constituents will have to DRIVE or just stay home! If anyh of them had vacations planned, well...too bad! It means even private jets can't fly. how long do you think that five week break would really last? My guess is you'd be talking days at the most!

[MrsBrady]

4. i had been wondering about inspectors....per the article...

"But FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt revealed Monday that airport safety inspectors nationwide have been working without pay and shouldering travel expenses themselves since the shutdown began."

geeeeezzzzzzz :eyes:

I guess our air safety now depends upon how much personal credit inspectors have on their credit cards. holy crap.

[Major Hogwash]

5. Hatch hates unions. When they asked him last week for help he said "shut it down"

My way or the highway. That's always how Hatch has been. He's a real piece of work.