Lame Line

I, of course, was wary of this amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill as soon as I saw a Republican offered it.

Writing safety rules could get tougher for FAA

”A bill providing authority for Federal Aviation Administration programs that the House passed in March contains an amendment sponsored by Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa. It would change the way the FAA goes about making regulations, including requiring an analysis of the effect proposed rules may have on the economy, private markets, productivity, employment and competitiveness.”

On the surface, it sounds like a Republican is legislating a bunch of red tape. Which, of course, is exactly what Representative Shuster is doing. It isn’t red tape for the industry to cut through. It’s red tape for the FAA to get entangled in before they can issue a new rule. Let’s call it preemptive deregulation.

I wasn’t real sure about it until I read this line.

”Urbanchuk and officials for the passenger, cargo and nonscheduled airline industries said the amendment is merely an attempt to put into law the intent of an executive order issued by President Barack Obama in January. That order directs all federal agencies to make sure that regulations aren't duplicative, that the public has opportunity to voice their concerns, that the best available means be used to quantify cost and that, where possible, agencies consider ways to reduce the burden of regulations.”

That line is so lame it’s hard to believe anyone would fall for it. Republicans -- at least not the current crop of Republicans -- aren’t going to do anything that codifies something President Obama has done. Somebody is just trying to prevent the FAA from issuing any new regulations.

Don Brown
May 3, 2011