FAA shuts down at midnight - 4,000 workers furloughed

[spedtr90]

Republicans are trying to destroy the government. They have an ap for that....

When Republicans would not let go of an anti-union provision they pulled a Palin, (a Cantor, and a Boenher) and quit, walked out, went home. Dic Durbin said, "What I offered was a clean extension that didn’t get into the merits of this, which said let’s put this big debate aside and that debate aside and keep the agency working, the federal aviation administration. said, ‘No, you either take the Republican approach or else.’

As a result of Congress’ failure to pass any sort of long-term funding deal for the FAA, around $2.5 billion worth of airport construction will cease and airlines will have to stop collecting around $200 million a week in ticket taxes. The up to 4,000 furloughed employees will include engineers, administrative assistants and computer specialists, but air traffic controllers will stay on duty.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/07/22/277015/faa-shutdown/

[CaptRandom]

1. Wha? Midnight, as in 10 minutes ago?

The same FAA that maintains the computers that control the dizzying network of radar that keep 10,000 aircraft of crashing into each other thirty thousand feet above our heads?

And the same engineers and computer specialists that keep that network running?

holy shit...

[aquart]

2. Does this mean no one can fly?

Why do they have to stop collecting the taxes? Can't they just play with it instead?

Does this mean fares will be cheaper?

[kelly1mm]

3. No flight taxes huh? Time to book a trip! nt

[Ian David]

4. Shut down the SEC and make them stop trading stocks.

We'll have this fucker fixed in 10 minutes.