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Senate not ready to move 38,000 workers off the federal payroll Senate not ready to move 38,000 workers off the federal payroll
(about 1 hour later)
Senate Republicans broke with their House colleagues Wednesday, opting not to embrace a plan that would have removed about 38,000 workers from the federal payroll.Senate Republicans broke with their House colleagues Wednesday, opting not to embrace a plan that would have removed about 38,000 workers from the federal payroll.
The Senate rolled out a bipartisan reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration that would put additional requirements on people who buy drones and require airlines to be more transparent about the manner in which they impose fees for checked baggage, ticket changes, cancellations and seat selection.The Senate rolled out a bipartisan reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration that would put additional requirements on people who buy drones and require airlines to be more transparent about the manner in which they impose fees for checked baggage, ticket changes, cancellations and seat selection.
Despite its silence on the issue, the $7.1-billion bill leaves alive the House plan to transfer about 14,000 air traffic controllers and 24,000 other federal workers to a federally-chartered non-profit corporation. Despite its silence on the issue, the $7.1 billion bill leaves alive the House plan to transfer about 14,000 air-traffic controllers and 24,000 other federal workers to a federally-chartered nonprofit corporation.
That’s because the senate bill would expire at the end of fiscal year 2017, giving advocates of the spinoff a chance to push for it again with the knowledge that Congress will need to begin working on the next FAA bill almost immediately after the current proposal wins approval. That is because the Senate bill would expire at the end of fiscal year 2017, giving advocates of the spinoff a chance to push for it again with the knowledge that Congress will need to begin working on the next FAA bill almost immediately after the current proposal wins approval.
Senate staff members, who briefed reporters on the condition that they not be identified by name, said there wasn’t sufficient support in the Senate for what the House did in committee last month. Senate staff members, who briefed reporters on the condition that they not be identified by name, said there was not sufficient support in the Senate for what the House did in committee last month.
“There are a number of things that people will revisit,” a senior staff member said.“There are a number of things that people will revisit,” a senior staff member said.
[House Republicans move ahead with plan to shift 38,000 FAA workers][House Republicans move ahead with plan to shift 38,000 FAA workers]
The bill that emerged from the House Transportation Committee was a generally bipartisan agreement, but the issue of shearing off about 80 percent of the FAA’s workforce was bitterly opposed by most Democrats. The bill that emerged from the House Transportation Committee was generally a bipartisan agreement, but the issue of shearing off about 80 percent of the FAA’s workforce was bitterly opposed by most Democrats.
It also has divided the airlines — Delta opposes the shift, while the other large airlines support it — and the unions, including the air traffic controllers, backing the move to transfer its workers. It also has divided the airlines — Delta opposes the shift, while the other large airlines support it — and the unions, including the air-traffic controllers, backing the move to transfer its workers.
A senior staff member who helped craft the House bill said the Senate was making a pragmatic decision to move the bill forward, unencumbered by a potentially divisive provision.A senior staff member who helped craft the House bill said the Senate was making a pragmatic decision to move the bill forward, unencumbered by a potentially divisive provision.
“I think they were very interested in following our lead, but two of the Commerce Committee senators are running for president and couldn’t be counted on to show for a markup so [Sen. John] Thune decided to punt,” the House staff member said. “They figured that was preferable to losing in committee.” “I think they were very interested in following our lead, but two of the Commerce Committee senators are running for president and couldn’t be counted on to show for a markup, so [Sen. John] Thune decided to punt,” the House staff member said. “They figured that was preferable to losing in committee.”
Both Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla) are on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation chaired by Thune (R-S.D.). Both Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which is chaired by Thune (R-S.D.).
The Senate bill does not include a ban on the use of cell phones in flight, one of the provisions in the House legislation. The Senate bill does not include a ban on the use of cellphones in flight, one of the provisions in the House legislation.
[Cellphones at 37,000 feet?][Cellphones at 37,000 feet?]
Though the Senate proposal is so short-term it might almost be another extension, the Senate saw it as an opportunity to make changes in law that would have long-term affects. Although the Senate proposal is so short-term it might almost be another extension, the Senate saw it as an opportunity to make changes in law that would have long-term affects.
It would require airlines to state more succinctly and clearly the fees they charge for such things as prime seat selection, checked baggage, changes and cancellations, so that passengers are better able to see the bottom line when they shop for the best ticket price.It would require airlines to state more succinctly and clearly the fees they charge for such things as prime seat selection, checked baggage, changes and cancellations, so that passengers are better able to see the bottom line when they shop for the best ticket price.
Airlines also would be required to tell parents at the time they purchase tickets whether it is feasible for them to sit with their child. And it mandates that checked-baggage fees be refunded if lost luggage is delivered hours after a flight arrives. Airlines also would be required to tell parents at the time they buy tickets whether it is feasible for them to sit with their child. And it mandates that checked-baggage fees be refunded if lost luggage is delivered hours after a flight arrives.
The bill also would require that people who purchase drones take an on-line test on their knowledge of restrictions and proper handling of their aircraft. Success with the test would produce a printed verification that the pilot could carry. The FAA already requires registration of drones. The bill also would require that people who buy drones take an online test on their knowledge of restrictions and proper handling of their aircraft. Success with the test would produce a printed verification that the pilot could carry. The FAA already requires registration of drones.
The bill requires testing by the FAA to determine whether the distance between seats has become too close to allow for the evacuation of airplanes. It also mandates that the FAA comply with an international ban on the shipment of lithium-ion batteries aboard airplanes, a practice blamed for bringing down two jetliners when the batteries burst into flames. The FAA already has endorsed a global ban on their shipment by the International Civil Aviation Organization.The bill requires testing by the FAA to determine whether the distance between seats has become too close to allow for the evacuation of airplanes. It also mandates that the FAA comply with an international ban on the shipment of lithium-ion batteries aboard airplanes, a practice blamed for bringing down two jetliners when the batteries burst into flames. The FAA already has endorsed a global ban on their shipment by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
[FAA endorses global ban on batteries that cause fires on planes][FAA endorses global ban on batteries that cause fires on planes]
The Senate bill will be subject to amendments at a March 16 session. The current FAA authorization expires on March 31, and a three-month extension is expected to pass both houses while they continue to work on the longer bill. The Senate bill will be subject to amendments at a Wednesday session. The current FAA authorization expires March 31, and a three-month extension is expected to pass both houses while lawmakers continue to work on the longer bill.