This article appeared on Yahoo! on Thursday, and really illustrates how Democrats are willing to damage their "protected classes" in order to make a point. It also underscores the lawless attitude of the administration – cut if you want, but we’ll ignore you:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has reached a bipartisan compromise to end a two-week partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration that has idled tens of thousands of workers and cost the government about $30 million a day in uncollected airline ticket taxes, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Thursday.
The deal would allow the Senate to approve a House bill extending the FAA’s operating authority through mid-September, including a provision that eliminates $16.5 million in air service subsidies to 13 rural communities. Passage of the bill was expected Friday.
Republicans had insisted on the subsidy cuts as their price for restoring the FAA to full operation. But the cuts may become moot. The bill includes language that gives Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood the authority to continue subsidized service to the 13 communities if he decides it’s necessary. Democrats said they expect the administration to effectively waive or negate the cuts.
"I just know that the White House has provided assurances that they (the communities) will be held harmless," said a Senate Democratic leadership aide who asked not to be named because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the deal.
Mike Says: So let’s get this right-
Once more the Democrats were willing to inclict pain on 74,000 workers and on the travelling public, because they couldn’t even stomach cuts of a few million in pork for their pet local airports.
Anybody remember the John Murtha memorial airport? (not its real name), which was modernised and upgraded at huge expense to support 3 daily round trip jets to DC in order to improve the travelling comfort of Mr Murtha and a few well connected friends – it’s this kind of garbage the GOP wants to cut, but the Dems would rather shut down the whole FAA than lose their perks/pork.
Government shutdowns, agency budget fights – it makes no difference – a logical debate about cuts canot be had, so it goes down to the wire, the shutdown occurs, and the press dutifully reports "GOP mean: Women and minorities hardest hit".
When will the press, or at least the thinking public, understand that the real meanies are the left, as they fight to preserve unsustainable spending and protect their fiefdoms (thiefdoms), all the way to bankruptcy.
And notice one more impeachable offense – even if small amounts of pork are excised from the FAA’s funding, Obama, who does NOT have the power to appropriate money, will restore it. Are we tired of this "prince" yet?
