Sen. Rockefeller: We have only about 3-4 weeks of air travel left in this country

[Newsjock]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-faa-faces-partial-shutdown-at-midnight-airfares-wont-be-taxed-20110722,0,1127507.story

Portions of the Federal Aviation Administration will shut down at midnight -- putting nearly 4,000 people temporarily out of work and allowing airline passengers to buy tickets without taxes -- unless Congress can resolve a partisan dispute over legislation to temporarily extend the agency's operating authority.

... Whatever happens in Washington, airlines will still operate as normal and air traffic controllers would remain on the job.

... But Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate committee that oversees the FAA, said the agency "estimates that it could only operate air traffic and support services through mid-August."

"This would mean services to smaller areas like mine -- West Virginia -- would need to draw down in the near term so that the FAA can focus on primary traffic. That's not something we would look forward to," Rockefeller said in a speech on the Senate floor.

[DeSwiss]

1. Boehner = Gringrich (redux) - K&R n/t

[Doctor_J]

18. Unfortunately Obama will cave in (even more) instead of facing

down Boner like Clinton did with Gingrinch.

[grantcart]

2. The ports would also have to close and FDA inspectors would no

longer be present and beef could no longer be inspected and packaged.

Just a couple of the industries that would grind to an immediate halt.

Alot of Republicans import/exporters and cattlemen are going to be wiped out.

Probably why the President knew that in the end the Republicans are going to fold.

[Parker CA]

5. Off topic here...

but it's nice to see you posting again, grantcart. I always enjoyed your posts and noticed an absence for quite some time. Glad you found your way back here.

[MaeScott]

15. +1. nt

[grantcart]

16. Thanks for your kind words

Not really an active poster but had to spend several days on IRS refillings and need a break every once in a while.

Next week I will be back on the road and will be back to brief lurking and an occasional post.

[napi21]

6. Isn't it the USDA that inspects cattle? I'm sure the spoiled brats want that shut

down too, but I can't see what the FDA has to do with it.

[tblue]

3. Oh great.

Whole country is going to pot. Only thing I'm thinking is the Corporste Masters won't like this do they will push to fix this.

[napi21]

4. Keep you guts Dems! The spoiled, arrogant, and foolish pubs

will HIVE to give in when more & more airports shut down and their constituents, INCLUDING THEMSELVES suddenly have to drive to another
State, or maybe not fly at all!

I too have skin in this gams since my son works for an airline, and if the FAA shuts down, he'd be on furlough too. I'm just damn sick & tired of these Pubs thinking they can get their way if they just stubbornly refuse anything but their own ideas!

It seems like our Prez is getting angry enough to give 'em hell too. I'd like to see him use some of the tactics that former presidents did, like telling these AH's I will veto every damn piece of legislation you submit and withold all funds from your area for anything until you act like a resonable human being!

[ashling]

8. Inhoff is thinking

"Now I can land anywhere I damn want!" :sarcasm:

[Angry Dragon]

7. The very first thing to go should be ANY money going to Congress

No budget = No pay
No junkets
No pension
No medical
No nothing

[TBF]

13. I agree - and if they cut Social Security they should lose part of their pensions permanently. nt

[Tx4obama]

9. Before it's all over I think some GOPers will be on trial for treason. n/t

[B Calm]

10. TERRORISM too

[Doctor_J]

19. Only if someone stands up to them

any ideas who that might be?

[cutlassmama]

11. People aren't flying as much anyway because of the TSA patdowns. They don't

feel like being molested in order to ride in a plane.

[MineralMan]

14. Incorrect. Millions fly every week. Go to the nearest airport

and watch the planes take off and land. Most are full.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. It does not matter, this woudl bring the country to a halt

realize your mail goes by air.

[On the Road]

12. Now THAT's the Kind of Effect That Will Get the Ceiling Raised

Shut down the airports along with the rest of the government. Warnings are not going to help. It has to happen and the right wing has to realize it overreached and doesn't have the leverage it thinks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Bathtub...

Need I say more?

They are about to see WHY you need a fracking government. I don't know if this is a good thing... but here is where we are.

[originalpckelly]

21. Why did I drop the travel and think Mel Brooks Prez. Skroob in Spaceballs?

:rofl:

[saras]

22. Nice little experiment - see if we can do without them

Nothing in the alternative energy future promises any way of making aircraft practical. They're going away with oil. We may as well start thinking about it.