More incorrect information about the FAA and Republicans UPDATE: Video, Stephen Hayes

If you haven’t already, you will soon hear that the Republicans in the House “shut down” the FAA causing thousands to be furloughed, and hundreds of projects stopped.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

We told you about the problem here.  But, just to refresh your recollection, on July 20 the House passed a short term authorization bill that would have continued funding for the FAA through the August Congressional recess.  Senator Harry Reid (D. Nv.) refused to bring the bill before the Senate because some of his constituents, as well as those of Senators Max Baucus (D. Mt.) and Jay Rockefeller (D. W.V.) would lose their nifty federal subsidies for air travel.

Now that Congress is in recess, Democrats are blaming the Republicans for the shut down.

Democrats though cast the dispute not as one that is about cost-cutting, but one that involves efforts by the GOP to overturn a National Mediation Board labor provision dealing with unionization efforts by airline workers.

When you hear this, don’t believe it.  The above link quotes the language of the House version of the FAA extension.  No where in the bill is there even a mention of the National Mediation Board, much less airline workers unionization.  That concept is something that the Republicans in the House want to address long term, but, it is not in the short term extension.

So, all of those people who have lost their jobs have no one to thank but Senators Reid, Baucus and Rockefeller, no matter how much the Democrats want to spin it.

But, since I am here, let me explain the “labor” dispute.  For 76 years the National Mediation Board, which has authority over airline unionization, has had a rule in place that requires that 50% of all employees sought to be unionized must agree before the union is recognized.  Quietly, the Obama administration changed that rule to say that only 50% of those who voted are needed for recognition…a far lesser standard.

If the rule has worked for 76 years through an assortment of administrations, could someone please explain why that rule now is suddenly obsolete?

Anyone?

UPDATE: Stephen Hayes confirms what the SOS knows to be true. But even more so … The republicans are just asking that the Democrats pass an extension they already passed … in February.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhJPoTQDvcs

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SoundOffSister

The Sound Off Sister was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and special trial attorney for the Department of Justice, Criminal Division; a partner in the Florida law firm of Shutts & Bowen, and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, School of Law. The Sound Off Sister offers frequent commentary concerning legislation making its way through Congress, including the health reform legislation passed in early 2010.

8 Comments

  1. phil on August 4, 2011 at 7:59 am

    “…why?that rule?now is suddenly?obsolete?”? Because Congress thinks the Constitution is obsolete.? Except, of course, those parts that can be used for their own benefit.



  2. Dimsdale on August 4, 2011 at 8:40 am

    If “bridges to nowhere” are worthy of ridicule and unworthy of funding, then so should “airports to nowhere”.? Subsidized airports are the equivalent of Queen Pelosi’s demand for Air Force jets to be at her beck and call.
    ?
    Now if we could just deal with those “going nowhere fast” fatcat congresscritters who think they are royalty instead of representatives.



  3. RoBrDona on August 4, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    Just more bait and switch misdirection and outright lies by the MSM. I had the misfortune to watch CNN last night in a restaurant. Vapid Blondie was interviewing an FAA engineer?who is being furloughed for 5 weeks. He?described his plight as “horrific”.?The both directly accused the R’s of sabotaging America. I almost spit up my Diet Coke. All of this was done with an absolute straight face. Unbelieveable….???



  4. Tim-in-Alabama on August 4, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    The three terrorists responsible for putting 4,000 FAA workers out on the streets to face certain death and costing the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars are the psychotic and stupid Democrat senators Harvey Rude, Max Bawkedus and Jay Rocketscientist. These spoiled brats really need intense therapy to deal with their addictions to government subsidized airline tickets.



  5. Plainvillian on August 4, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    As a pilot for over 30 years, I know any analysis of FAA behavior cannot be intelligently expressed in a sound bite or brief essay.? What I do know is that thousands of airports have disappeared in that time and it is increasingly more difficult to become a pilot or afford to remain one.? Most private pilots believe the FAA motto is “We’re not happy until you’re not happy.”
    I have landed at a few of those remote airports where ticket prices are subsidized and they are often obviously make work outposts of TSA waste or Taj Mahals of government largess from entrenched congresscritters.? The most egregious example I’ve personally seen is the over developed airport in Johnstown, PA, home of the late congresscritter John Murtha.
    The labor relations component of this issue is another component adding to the dysfunctional nature of a government agency.? In that regard, FAA is a shining beacon.



  6. Tim-in-Alabama on August 5, 2011 at 2:09 am

    Looks like the racist terrorist spoiled brat Harry Reid got his way. Ray the Hood now has the authority to impose the subsidies on the nearly empty flights to the terrorist senators’ airports.



  7. Eric on August 5, 2011 at 7:10 am

    Why aren’t there more republican congressmen taking their case directly to the people like the lefties constantly do? ?There are several syndicated radio and TV programs who would welcome this sort of thing. ?Marco Rubio is a good example of the kind of bright and articulate messenger that the republican leadership should be taking advantage of!



  8. Gary J on August 5, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    Eric? Marco Rubio is so far”above” any politician <now serving> they can’t even see him. When his name is mentioned ,our founding fathers? smile.



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