It is amazing that the airlines are seeking help from congress----again. Here are some excerpts from an article:
'Just four years after Congress agreed to a massive bailout for the struggling aviation industry, lawmakers are poised once more to help airlines in the wake of bankruptcy filings, rising fuel costs and growing pension burdens.
'Lobbyists for the seven major U.S. carriers sought to coalesce their often-disparate demands behind their trade group, the Air Transport Association (ATA), after two airlines filed for Chapter 11 protection last week. Out of Delta and Northwest’s $29 billion in combined debts, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) estimates that more than $11 billion soon could be foisted on the federal government through unpaid pension bills.
'Now Congress and two key senators are trying to come to the airlines’ rescue. A spokeswoman for Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Commerce Committee, said that her boss was drafting a broad hurricane-relief package that includes a recommended suspension of the airlines’ 4.3 percent fuel tax, a longtime industry priority.
'Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), a key ally of Georgia-based Delta, said late last week that Delta and Northwest’s bankruptcies had given him the catalyst needed to bring a version of his airline-specific pension bill to a floor vote.
“We’re working on getting a bill on the floor [this] week for action in the Senate,” Isakson said. “All other issues are moot in terms of help for airlines. All other issues, with regard to passenger-facility charges or fuel taxes, we can do those later.”
And.....
'Delta and Northwest have been pushing for speedy passage of Isakson’s bill since their bankruptcy became a realistic consideration. Though there is no direct House counterpart bill, Delta spokeswoman Benet Wilson singled out House GOP conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce (Ohio) as an airlines ally.'
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/092105.html
Who should come first in line for help, the airlines or the people who have lost everything from the hurricanes? The GOP won't pull back on the tax cuts for the wealthy or their pork in the highway bill, but they are ready to bail out the airlines again? How are we going to pay for this? We have a war in Iraq that has cost us $200 billion, and hurricane clean up that might be the same amount. Something must change and it should not be a cutback that hurts the poor, the elderly, or the average hard-working citizen. The GOP has become the party of give aways for the rich.
