Partisan dispute to partially shut down FAA
Thursday, July 21, 2011
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is hours away from a partial shutdown that will put nearly 4,000 people out of work temporarily and suspend federal airline ticket taxes.
Senators failed Friday afternoon to resolve a partisan dispute over legislation to extend the agency's operating authority.
That authority expires at midnight. The House approved a Republican-sponsored bill earlier this week that would extend the FAA's operating authority through mid-September, but it contains a provision eliminating $16.5 million in air service subsides to rural airports
Senate Democrats say the cut is unacceptable. Their own effort to pass an extension was blocked by Republicans.
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