Sat, Oct 22, 2011
Revenue Enhancement Found In President's Deficit-Reduction
Proposals
The NBAA this week applauded a letter from House Republican
transportation leaders to the leaders of the Congressional Joint
Committee on Deficit Reduction opposing the Obama administration's
proposed aviation per-flight user fee for deficit reduction.
"The president's proposed $100 per flight fee is an arbitrary
number with no basis for its establishment," states the October 14
letter, sent by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Chairman Congressman John Mica (R-7-FL) and his Republican
committee colleagues to Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-5-TX) and Senator
Patty Murray (D-WA), the committee co-chairs.
"We strongly support the current aviation financing structure,"
the letter continues. "The President's proposed $100 per flight fee
is an arbitrary number with no basis for its establishment. The FAA
reauthorization proposal currently being pre-conferenced does not
include new user fees for aviation."
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen welcomed the letter from the
transportation leaders.
"Over the past five years, the idea of a per-flight fee is
something Congress has thoroughly analyzed and rejected," Bolen
(picured) said. "Elected officials have discussed the idea in a
host of hearings on the subject, and lawmakers have weighed in on
the matter when FAA reauthorization has been debated. Earlier this
year, 116 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to
the White House emphasizing their opposition to the notion of user
fees. This letter from House transportation leaders demonstrates a
continued understanding in congress that per-flight user fees are a
bad idea." Bolen added that while NBAA and other general aviation
organizations have made clear their readiness to help modernize the
air traffic system, the proposed $100/flight fee jeopardizes the
industry.
Instead of implementing a user fee for deficit reduction or
aviation modernization, the industry has continually focused on
building on the proven, efficient pay-at-the-pump fuel tax,
efficient to collect, has nearly 100-percent compliance from
aviation system users and serves as an accurate proxy for system
use. "Per gallon fuel taxes work," Bolen said. "But per-flight
taxes destroy."
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