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infiniview Merit · 08-03-2011, 12:31 PM

Senate fails to end costly FAA shutdown - travel - News - msnbc.com

Quote:

WASHINGTON — The government is likely to lose more than $1 billion in airline ticket taxes because lawmakers have left town for a month without resolving a partisan standoff over a bill to end the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The government already has lost more than $200 million since airlines are unable to collect taxes on ticket sales because the FAA's operating authority has expired.

The Senate recessed on Tuesday until September, erasing any possibility for quickly resolving the issue. The House left Monday night.

Caught up in the partisan acrimony are nearly 4,000 FAA employees who have been furloughed. The FAA also has issued stop work orders on more than 200 construction projects, threatening the jobs of thousands of other workers. Air traffic controllers, however, remain on the job.

The debacle could have had an upside for airline passengers because ticket taxes, which typically average about $30 on a $300 round-trip fare, are suspended during the shutdown. But airlines decided to pocket the windfall. Within hours of the shutdown on July 23, most airlines raised their fares by amounts equivalent to the taxes that disappeared.

Why is this not getting more attention I wonder? This would be another case that Obama could use an executive order on. This is just more republican obstructionism. It feels like the republicans are fighting a war against government of any kind but the dems are still trying to negotiate even though the other side has already started setting off bombs.

So they agree to this horrendous debt deal. Then they leave to go on vacation while millions of dollars of government money is flying out the window.

infiniview Merit · 08-03-2011, 03:53 PM

Ok so lets see, the government badly needs money. So the republicans deliberately mess with the agency that keeps us safe while flying, then gives the money the government would get from taxes to their corporate airline friends. This of course also puts mass people out of work further hurting average citizens and the economy itself.
The republicans are blatantly trying to defund government without any concern for the economy or the people in it.

Polo · 08-03-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infiniview Merit

Ok so lets see, the government badly needs money. So the republicans deliberately mess with the agency that keeps us safe while flying, then gives the money the government would get from taxes to their corporate airline friends. This of course also puts mass people out of work further hurting average citizens and the economy itself.
The republicans are blatantly trying to defund government without any concern for the economy or the people in it.

Again the question arises--and it's not entirely facetious--can these people be tried for treason?

Presumably, because of the US Constitution's narrow definition of 'treason,' it would be necessary to prove that the GOP votes were made expressly to benefit an "enemy" of the USA. Certainly the further decline of the US economy that the votes contribute to WILL benefit nations other than the US, relatively speaking.

But in all probability it's all too diffuse for an actual charge of 'treason'. Still, one would hope for some Great Communicator(s) to arise, who can make the case to US voters that the GOP has deliberately done harm to the general welfare.

Dickie Swansong · 08-03-2011, 07:18 PM

From what I've heard onna radio, they are collectin' the taxes, and claimin' they've sent 'em on ta the IRS. The IRS is sayin' "Nu uh, we dun' has 'em."

Good luck gettin' ya money back.

Polo · 08-03-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dickie Swansong

From what I've heard onna radio, they are collectin' the taxes, and claimin' they've sent 'em on ta the IRS. The IRS is sayin' "Nu uh, we dun' has 'em."

Good luck gettin' ya money back.

Delta and US Airways have been forced by the bad publicity to refund the fees:
US Airways joins Delta, plans direct refund of taxes - USATODAY.com

Dickie Swansong · 08-03-2011, 07:23 PM

OMG! We got caught!

Edav Nomad · 08-04-2011, 08:35 PM

Congress reaches deal to end FAA shutdown - Yahoo! News

08-04-2011, 08:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Edav Nomad Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,656 My Mood: SL Join Date: June 12, 2003	Congress reaches deal to end FAA shutdown - Yahoo! News __________________

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The Religious Life Of Two Senators	This thread	Refback	08-29-2011 07:48 PM

08-03-2011, 03:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
infiniview Merit fractal networker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: seattle Posts: 1,296 My Mood: SL Join Date: 4-27-06 Business: Texture Arts	Ok so lets see, the government badly needs money. So the republicans deliberately mess with the agency that keeps us safe while flying, then gives the money the government would get from taxes to their corporate airline friends. This of course also puts mass people out of work further hurting average citizens and the economy itself. The republicans are blatantly trying to defund government without any concern for the economy or the people in it.

08-03-2011, 07:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dickie Swansong A Queer & Pleasant Danger Lies down wif Bunnies Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,266 My Mood: SL Join Date: July 5, 2006 Business: Mournin' Woods Client: Dun' compromise mai privacies!	From what I've heard onna radio, they are collectin' the taxes, and claimin' they've sent 'em on ta the IRS. The IRS is sayin' "Nu uh, we dun' has 'em." Good luck gettin' ya money back.

08-03-2011, 07:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dickie Swansong A Queer & Pleasant Danger Lies down wif Bunnies Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,266 My Mood: SL Join Date: July 5, 2006 Business: Mournin' Woods Client: Dun' compromise mai privacies!	OMG! We got caught!

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