Battle Lost, But More Skirmishes Looming
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association reports there was no
doubt about the general aviation community's hatred of user fees in
the minds of any member of the Senate Commerce Committee when it
came time to vote Wednesday on an amendment that would have
stripped the $25-per-flight air traffic control user fee from the
Senate's FAA funding bill.
As ANN reported in Real Time,
the Senate Commerce Committee voted 12 to 11 on May 16 to impose
user fees for ATC services. AOPA President Phil Boyer notes, while
the loss is discouraging, the Senate committee is but the first of
nearly a dozen political bodies that will weigh in on the FAA
financing issue.
"As disappointing as this one vote is, I still consider it a win
for the long term," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "In Washington,
it's not always about the result but about how you play the game,
and in this case pilots disrupted the airlines' attempt to smoothly
have user fees pass."
Boyer noted that three days ago, no one would have believed that
there was the slightest chance in knocking user fees out of the
package.
"But with the help of AOPA members, we nearly turned it around
in two and half days," said Boyer. "That sends a message to the
rest of Congress, showing that there is strong support for our
no-user-fee position."
"We're extremely grateful to Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and
John E. Sununu (R-NH) for sponsoring this amendment and to the
senators who supported them," said Boyer.
AOPA also notes Alaska
Senator Ted Stevens (right) -- who cast the tie-breaking vote to
keep user fees in the bill -- did so with hesitation. Referring to
the effect of user fees on aircraft flying in Alaska, Stevens said
he thought there was "a bit of unfairness" in the bill, but he
wanted to send it to the Senate floor.
"That gives us the opportunity build on the momentum started
against user fees," said Boyer. (Editor's
Note: Considering the impact and importance of general
aviation in Alaska, one could argue Stevens' vote was particularly
egregious.)
Fuel Tax Remains Hot Issue
Noting that the Rockefeller-Lott FAA funding bill would give the
airlines a tax break by eliminating its 4.3-cent fuel tax and
replacing it with a $25-per-flight user fee on all turbine-powered
aircraft flying in controlled airspace, Nelson asked, "Who do you
want to pay? You have to make a choice; do you want it from the
user fee or a continuation of the existing fuel tax on commercial
aviation?"
Nelson said that Florida, like Alaska, depended upon GA... but
unlike Alaska, his entire state was covered by controlled airspace.
Every turboprop flying point to point in Florida would pay the
$25-per-flight fee.
Nelson also openly wondered if the fee was the airlines' attempt
to snuff small competitors such as DayJet, which provides
on-demand, point-to-point air taxi services.
Fuel taxes will also be under consideration in the Senate
Finance Committee. "That committee also has a say on the FAA
funding bill. That's where the taxes on aviation will actually be
set," said Boyer.
The House will be writing its version of FAA funding
legislation.
"While we know that
Transportation Committee Chairman Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and
many members of the committee are strongly opposed to user fees,
aviation taxes and fees will ultimately be determined by the House
Ways and Means Committee," said Boyer.
And legislation can be amended or changed at any point as it
moves through Congress.
"We're still very much in the fight," said Boyer. "And our
politically active members have sent a clear message to Congress:
no user fees for any segment of aviation. Period."
Remember These Names... On Both Sides
AOPA notes 11 members of the Commerce Committee deserve special
recognition from pilots for their tremendous work in supporting the
fight against user fees. First of all, Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and
John Sununu (R-NH) stepped forward to sponsor the amendment. Sens.
Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Kay
Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), Gordon Smith
(R-OR), John Ensign (R-NV), Jim DeMint (R-SC), and David Vitter
(R-LA) all supported the amendment.
On the other side, there were 12 senators who supported user
fees: Sens. John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), Trent Lott (R-MS), Ted
Stevens (R-AK), Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), John F. Kerry (D-MA),
Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Frank R. Lautenberg
(D-NJ), Claire C. McCaskill (D-MO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John
McCain (R-AZ), and John Thune (R-SD)