Why are we subsidizing Harry Reid’s trips home…

…or, what happened to the FAA?

On Friday, Congress failed to pass yet another extension of the FAA’s authorization.  Beginning in 2007, Congress could not agree on the terms of an FAA reauthorization bill, and this stalemate has continued for the past four years.  In the interim, Congress has passed 21 extentions of the prior authorization, but, the last extension expired Friday.

There will be no lay-offs for air traffic controllers, but, the rest of the employees will be getting furlough notices beginning today.

What went wrong, you ask?

The root cause of the problem is how the FAA spends your money.  We have numerous airports throughout the country that handle very few passengers a day.  Because of the lack of traffic, it is very expensive for airlines to service these airports, when, as an example, no more than 20 passengers a day are either arriving or departing.

So, the FAA started a program years ago that essentially subsidized the cost of air fare to and from these airports.  It was claimed that if the air fare wasn’t subsidized, no airlines would service the airport.  Since 2007 many members of Congress (enough to block a vote on reauthorization) have insisted that this subsidy program be scaled back, or even eliminated.

This year, Congressman John Mica (R. Fl.) inserted a provision in the FAA authorization bill that would limit subsidies to $1000 a ticket.  But, a few “influential” members of Congress have blocked any such cutback, because, you guessed it, it would cost them, and their constituants, more money to fly.

Here’s a sampling of those in the Senate that believe firmly that you should defray the cost of someone else’s air travel.

[T]he provision affected small airports in some states with very powerful Democrats: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) among others. [emphasis supplied]

Here is what Congressman Mica had to say,

I’m tired of playing games…We’re paying $3,700 to subsidize one plane ticket in one Senator’s district – that’s not right. [emphasis supplied]

Guess what airport that subsidy applies to?

That would be the airport in Ely, Nevada…home state of Senator Harry Reid (D. Nv.).

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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.

13 Comments

  1. NH-Jim on July 25, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    Well, Nancy needs some place land on her broom to visit Warlock Reid.



  2. Plainvillian on July 25, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    How dare you question an entitlement of the ruling elite?



    • GdavidH on July 25, 2011 at 9:44 pm

      My thoughts exactly!



  3. Tim-in-Alabama on July 25, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    Why are we subsidizing Harvey Rude’s flights? Because you can’t get anywhere with just a left wing.



    • GdavidH on July 25, 2011 at 9:48 pm

      Kinda drives home the old mechanics mnemonic, but with your money. Righty tighty, lefty loosey.



    • winnie888 on July 26, 2011 at 4:07 am

      that was great, tim….rofl
      ?



  4. ricbee on July 25, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    The old coot can’t fly into Vegas & limo home?



  5. winnie888 on July 26, 2011 at 4:08 am

    New acronym:? NIMAS (not in my airspace).? Seriously?? These are the same dems howling at the moon because of our debt crisis?? Oh, dear Lord, please save us.



  6. Marilyn on July 26, 2011 at 7:31 am

    Sorry winnie888, he can’t save us, only we can , with the common sense he gave us.



  7. PatRiot on July 26, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    Why??
    Because we didn’t yell loud enough when we found out Pelosi was commuting from San Fran.? And we didn’t praise Palin enough for selling off the state?of Alaska jet.



  8. Dimsdale on July 27, 2011 at 7:58 am

    The Dems are “doing it for the children” (of Harry Reid and Baucus and Rockerfeller).



  9. Lynn on July 27, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    These are hysterical. Why doesn’t the GOP use these for ads. However my answer to the question of the title “Why are we subsidizing Harry Reid’s Trips Home….” Because we want him to stay at home and get the h*ll out of Washington. Uh, Rep. Reid that will be a ONE-WAY ticket, if you please.



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