FAA Reauthorization: New Bill In Play

[barnstorm2]

By Mary Grady, Contributing Editor


http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA_Reauthorization_New_Bill_In_Play_195121-1.html


With the FAA's proposal to restructure the way it's financed facing a broad array of opposition, Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Trent Lott, R-Miss., have come up with their own solution, The Hill reported on Tuesday.

Their bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate later this week. It exempts piston-driven aircraft from user fees and new taxes, but would shift a considerable share of costs off the airlines and onto smaller turbine aircraft.

The Alliance for Aviation Across America, a recently formed alliance of groups opposed to user fees, has already expressed "grave concerns" about the new bill. "This proposal would include a tax cut for the commercial airlines that would be offset by additional taxes on general aviation, the small businesses, farmers, fire-fighters, air medical services and flight schools around the country that use small planes," the Alliance said on Tuesday.

 

[Hognose]

There's a couple of pieces of work. Lott is the guy who had to step down from the leadership on the Republican side after praising segregation. He's also one of the most notorious pay-for-play grifters in Congress (which is saying a lot). He's a devoted porker and is remembered for the multi-skillion-dollar "Railroad to Nowhere" that he snuck into the Katrina bill as a payback for some kind of payoff.

No question why Lott filed this bill -- somebody made it worth his while, cha-chingg. I wouldn't doubt that Rockefeller (who's a piece of work his ownself) has similar motivations. To a point, anyway... he's the senator from WV who WASN'T a Grand Kleagle and Exalted Octopus in the Ku Klux Klan (I know, it sounds comical, but I'm not making it up. And no, I have no idea what an Exalted Octopus does... Sen. Byrd admitted the rank but never described his duties).

cheers

-=K=-

 

[Heron]

I don;t know but this Octopuss thing made me envision Bob Square Pants running like a bat out of hell . . . .
Oh the perks of Democracy . . . .behave or I will bring it to your contry!
Heron

 

[Joe Pires]

An exalted octopus is a term of respect from one politician to another. The term orginates from the the eight arms of the octopus which allows them to have their hands in 8 different pockets at the same time.

 

[WHY]

We used to have the best politicians money could by but now you just don't get much for your money, just look at what's being spent on 2008 and what your getting for the money!

Tony

 

[barnstorm2]

May 6, 2007

Alphabets Rap New FAA Bill

By Russ Niles, Contributing Editor

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Alphabets_Rap_New_FAA_Bill_195133-1.html



A compromise bill on FAA budget reauthorization is meeting swift -- and predictable -- opposition from the aviation sector it hits hardest. The National Business Aviation Association has come out swinging against the bill proposed by Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Trent Lott, R-Miss., that would shift all of the burden of general aviation user fees to smaller turbine aircraft. "It is regrettable that at a critical point in our transformation to the Next Generation Air Traffic System, the bill is proposing a sharp pivot away from a proven funding structure toward the foreign-style user fees that have been so harmful to small aircraft operators outside the U.S," NBAA President Ed Bolen said in a news release.

AOPA was more conciliatory, but nonetheless opposed to the principles involved in the bill. In a news release, AOPA President Phil Boyer said that while the bill addresses many of the aviation community's concerns about the combination of increased fuel taxes and user fees proposed by the FAA, it misses a fundamental point. "This bill is a lot better than the FAA's proposed legislation," said Boyer. "Our thanks to Senators Rockefeller and Lott, as they intend to keep piston-powered general aviation taxes right where they are today. But we have real concerns about the precedent-setting introduction of user fees and the impacts on our members who fly turbine aircraft."

Under the bill, piston aircraft would be exempt from any increases but turbine-powered aircraft flying IFR would be subject to a fee of $25, ostensibly to pay for airspace modernization. The bill also proposes doubling the tax on jet fuel from 24 cents to 49 cents a gallon.