Reply #6: Yes. [View All]

[Igel]

When you have to make a fairly straightforward story say something it doesn't really say, it does get confusing.

House passes bill. Calls for reauthorizing FAA, collecting taxes; tweaks the rules on union voting in a way that may be serious; cuts subsidies to some rural airports in (D)-represented states/districts.

Senate looks at bill and doesn't like it. It wants the House to pass a bill to its liking. Some leaders really, really don't like reducing subsidies that help their constituents. It takes a day or two, but eventually the media talk about effects on union votes. Senate's home by that point.

Usual minimum response: Vote down the bill.

Preferred response: Amend bill, vote, pass, send to conference committee.

Obama's response: Blame the House for not producing the bill the Senate, and he, would have liked. But it's still a problem that the House's work is done; it's approved a bill, which is now waiting for debate and vote in the Senate. Can't much blame the House; doesn't want to blame the Senate.


If you like this one, wait until Congress returns and has to reauthorize the gas tax and transportation spending. *That* will be a debate to watch, I suspect.