Posted on 04/26/2013 12:56:49 PM PDT by pabianice
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress easily approved legislation Friday ending furloughs of air traffic controllers that have delayed hundreds of flights daily, infuriating travelers and causing political headaches for lawmakers.
The House approved the measure on a 361-41 vote, a day after the Senate swiftly agreed to the bill. The vote came as lawmakers prepared to leave town for a weeklong spring recess, a break that would have been less pleasant if they were confronted by constituents upset over travel delays.
Republicans accused the Obama administration of purposely furloughing controllers to pressure Congress to lift $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts - known as the sequester - that took effect last month at government agencies.
"The administration has played shameful politics with the sequester at the cost of hard-working American families," said Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa...
Officials estimate it would cost slightly more than $200 million to restore air traffic controllers to full staffing, and an additional $50 million to keep open smaller air traffic towers around the country that the FAA has proposed closing.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
This is not new money it would only allow the FAA to shift money for its budget to pay for it.
I see they’re now closing gauging stations right at the start of flood season.
Right...this allowed the Dems to “save face” over what was going to become a scandal for them.
Why not Close the White house totally and send 0 back to his home in Chicago!
HE can party with Ayers and eat BBQ! Moochell can fly back to Spain with her brats in tow!
BS.
I was agreeing with your point that the legislation merely shifted funds. The Dems agreed to it so fast because they knew they were running into public opinion trouble on the flight delays despite their attempt to blame Repubs.
The only reason they did it this time is they were losing on public opinion on an issue that was supposed to be theirs.
This is very good. The sequester will force the government to allocate funds to truly important things and take away money from wasteful programs. Let’s have more sequesters.
Would you be in favor of repealing obamacare prior to the Nov 2014 election?
Sure but what does that have to do with this story?
If we repeal it, wouldn’t we be allowing the Dems to “save face” over what was going to become a scandal for them?
And the Repubs didn't pass this bill to help the Dems...they did it to a problem fixed as quickly as possible. The Dems' motives are different.
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