FAA Shutdown Seems Averted

(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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