In a new round of angry rhetoric, the Democrats are calling the GOP "hostage takers" once more. This time the charges are the result of the shut down of part of the FAA due to the failure of the Senate to pass an authorization measure for that agency. As has been the case in repeated confrontations, the Republican controlled House has already passed a long term authorization measure which the Senate has stalled. The House has also passed a short term, temporary authorization which the Senate has again stalled. So the Democrats who control the Senate have done nothing, but they are the ones calling the Republicans "hostage takers". The Demcorats must really like that image, but it does not work. Americans are not that gullible.
So what is the real issue here? The temporary measure passed by the House ends keeps everything as is at the FAA, but it cuts off federal subsidies for twelve rural airport facilities in nine states. The truth is that the Democrats are the ones holding the entire country hostage by threatening air travel just to keep these twelve airports from losing their subsidies. But travel in these twelve markets is so low that it does not come anywhere near supporting the costs involved. The Democrats have to remember that air travel is not a right guaranteed to all by the Constitution. If it is too expensive to fly to some small town in the middle of nowhere, there is no need for the rest of America to pay to keep that service going.
Strangely, I hope that the Democrats keep the hostage charges going until next year. It makes them look crazy (which is pretty accurate).
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