After Democrats dominated the news on Wednesday about the ongoing impasse in Congress over the FAA, it was the turn of Republicans to take the spotlight, as the GOP sent out a long time insider who did not disappoint reporters gathered in the U.S. Capitol.
"It is time to declare B.S.," said Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH) on the arguments of Democrats over the FAA impasse.
LaTourette zeroed in on Democratic charges that what is driving Republicans is a push to change labor union rules on how union elections are conducted.
"There is no labor provision in it, there is no anti-labor provision in it," said the Ohio Republican, who disagrees with his party leadership on that issue, as he accused Democrats of conveniently ignoring what is in the FAA bill approved by the House on July 20.
"It's six pages long," said LaTourette, who has been handling FAA negotiations the past two weeks for Speaker John Boehner.
LaTourette displayed big poster board photos of two Senators, whom he directly blamed for the ongoing impasse - one from each party - Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV).
In his news conference, LaTourette detailed how he tried to broker a deal over the last week, but was stymied by those two Senators.
As for Coburn, LaTourette said the Oklahoma Republican did not want a "clean" authorization bill for the FAA, because it would do away with reforms Coburn moved through the full Senate to cut down on the price for airline ticket subsidies at some smaller airports.
Those reforms in the Essential Air Service were approved on a voice vote, part of a long term FAA bill that received 87 votes in the Senate.
As for Rockefeller, LaTourette said the West Virginia Democrat doesn't want to lose airline ticket subsidies at the airport in Morgantown, home to West Virginia University.
LaTourette said Speaker Boehner had agreed to a "clean" short-term authorization bill to keep the FAA working, and allow Congress to duke it out on this issue after lawmakers return after Labor Day from a summer break.
But LaTourette said Sen. Coburn objected to that, because it would drop his Essential Air Service language.
And then, Rockefeller objected to the Senate just accepting the House bill, because it would harm his airport in Morgantown.
LaTourette refused to aim any partisan fire at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, noting that Reid had publicly admitted the over $3,700 per passenger subsidy at the Ely, Nevada airport was indefensible in these current budget times.
So, the message from a long time ally of Speaker Boehner was that a deal could be in the works very quickly to solve this impasse, but for the objections of two Senators.
The House and Senate are both back for a few minutes on Friday. We'll see if there's a deal then.
