FAA Shutdown Seems Averted
Thursday, September 15, 2011
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)(Updated 7P 9/15): Minutes ago, the Senate passed the FAA
authorization (HR 2887) which extends FAA programs for four months by a vote of
92 to 6. In recent days Senator Tom Coburn had placed a hold on the
bill (see story below); however, after much pressure Senator Coburn relented and
the vote was allowed to proceed.
Senator Rand Paul offered an amendment
to reduce FAA funding to 2008 levels. Senators Rockefeller, Hutchinson and Boxer
spoke against it. The amendment failed by a vote of 61-36. "Special thanks to
the lobbyists from AFSCME, NATCA and PASS who helped to achieve this victory,"
says AFSCME Council 26's Carl Goldman. "We still have to work to ensure that
legislation is passed that gives back pay to all FAA employees who were
furloughed this summer"
Original
post: Workers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) face a partial
shutdown again this weekend, reports AFSCME Council 26’s Carl Goldman. “Sen.
Tom Coburn (R-OK) is single-handedly holding up the bill that will extend
aviation and surface transportation programs,” Goldman tells Union City.
Coburn is “holding this bill hostage” for a provision he knows would lose if
brought to a vote. “Coburn is demanding that the provision be put in the
bill without a vote” Goldman says. “He has little or no support in the
Senate and even Sen. Inhofe (R-OK) disagrees with him,” notes Goldman.
“AFSCME, NATCA and PASS lobbyists are working feverishly to stop this lunacy
from continuing.” A FAA shutdown would furlough thousands of workers; the
deadline for the FAA extension is Friday night at midnight. Those concerned can call
Coburn’s DC office at 202-224-5754 or, if you live in Oklahoma, call his
district office at 918-581-7651 to urge support for HR 2887. photo courtesy AP
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