… Rep. John Mica (R-FL) and Sen. John ‘Jay’ Rockefeller (D-WV) get into a battle over FAA/system reauthorization, and the end game is the system – at least the taxing system, much of FAA ops, and the dissemination of funds – comes to a halt. It’s where we are this week, and an industry asks, why?
Bad enough Congress can’t give us a long-term reauthorization bill that allows FAA and the industry to plan. Worst part is that the non-taxing authority means millions of dollars don’t get put into the Aviation Trust Fund; instead, they are for the most part going into the airlines’ coffers, who hiked their fares to an unknowing public. (Of course, with all the general media coverage this has received, consumers likely know better now.)
Mica and his Republican allies on the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee are trying to make a point, by including specific, immediate cuts to the Essential Air Service (EAS) program in what would be the 21st extension of taxing/operating authority for the FAA. Sen. Rockefeller, who heads up the Senate Commerce Committee and is a champion of entitlements, doesn’t like the idea.
Rockefeller and company would contend that this is the sort of political game … or strategy … that is the subject for debate in a long-term reauthorization bill discussion. Mica and company obviously feel it’s time to make a stand, even in a short-term extension.
Truth is, what the House is proposing is no big step; it’s just an inroad. Only a few airports would be impacted. It’s setting the tone for the budget debate to come -- a minor cog in the machine that is the battle in D.C. over spending, taxing, entitlements, etc. I recognize that most in industry would say let’s not upset the apple cart when we’re just going through continuing extensions … just keep the system running. But at some point the discussion needs to move to a higher, or more serious, level.
We’re there.
Thanks for reading. jfi