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Local Economies Not a Priority for President Obama

March 25, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2013

Local Economies Not a Priority for President Obama

WASHINGTON-Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released a statement on the Administration’s announcement to close the Concord Regional Airport Tower and 148 other airport towers.

“With today’s decision by the Obama Administration to close various airport control towers across the United States, we are faced with the disturbing reality that this President cares more about scoring political points with unions than he does about supporting economic expansion and revitalizing our economy,” said Hudson. “Today perfectly demonstrates why this government is so broken. Instead of cutting waste, the FAA is going to defund the Concord control tower, an airport of national significance and reliever airport to the 6th busiest airport in the world. In one afternoon I found nearly $300 million worth of savings that wouldn’t impact any local economies.”

“Our communities cannot afford to be puppets in the Administration’s political theater any longer. The FAA has a $9.7 billion operating fund, well positioned to absorb spending reductions, without closing operations vital to our economic growth. It’s time for Washington to stop playing political games and start putting economic growth first.”


Background:

The FAA has some of the highest compensated employees in the federal government. Between 2008 and 2012, average salary for all 47,700 FAA employees increased by 7.9% to over $118,000. Including benefits, the average compensation increases to $155,000.

If the FAA is looking to reduce costs, they should consider the following:

· Eliminate funding for unnecessary “non-classified basic airports.” Many airports no longer fit the criteria for receiving funding, including 22 privately owned airports. This will saveabout $41 million.

· Reduce the FAA’s spending on consultants, supplies, and travel by 15 percent. This will saveabout $105 million.

· Reduce or eliminate spending on the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP), 79% which have failed to fully achieve their objectives as reported by the FAA's own inspector general. This reform will save $6 million.

· Reduce or eliminate spending on the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, as recommended by the CBO. This will save$118 million.