Bipartisan Effort To Remind President Obama Of Benefits Of
BizAv
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin (R) and New Hampshire Governor
John Lynch (D) have written to President Obama asking for his
support for all of general aviation, including business aviation.
The governors’ letters remind the president of the
industry’s essential role in supporting job creation, helping
companies of all sizes compete and succeed and connecting
communities to global markets.
(L-R) Governors Fallin, Lynch
Governor Fallin’s letter notes that, “GA supports
1.2 million American jobs, over $150 billion in economic impact
annually, and is a vital economic engine for our national economy.
For all states, including Oklahoma, GA aircraft and the airports
they utilize represent a critical link in emergency services,
economic opportunity and global markets.”
Governor Lynch’s letter reminds the president that,
“General aviation has been hit hard by the economic
downturn…I hope that you will join me in recognizing the
importance of this industry to our national economy, and in taking
steps to preserve this important transportation industry and it
infrastructure whenever possible.”
The two governors’ letters come in the wake of a message
from the White House reiterating the administration’s support
for per-flight user fees for GA. In her letter, Governor Fallin
said flatly, new tax burdens on a critical sector of our economy
will do more economic harm than good and put thousands of jobs at
risk. For this reason, I oppose the imposition of ‘user
fee’ taxes on general aviation aircraft operators in any
form.”
A statement from the Alliance for Aviation Across America, a
non-profit, non-partisan coalition of more than 5,700 individuals
and organizations, including NBAA, said that aviation entities
would be “decimated” by the administration’s
proposed user fee and that the new fees would place a huge
administrative burden on businesses, farms and organizations
already struggling because of the economic downturn.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen earlier this month issued a
statement reiterating NBAA’s long-standing opposition to user
fees in any form, and added: “…the White House will
continue supporting its position on user fees by promoting the
tired rhetoric that disparages GA, when it should be promoting the
industry, and the jobs, exports and economic development it
generates.”
The gubernatorial letters join those earlier signed by 70 mayors
in 44 states, and 36 independent state proclamations affirming the
value of general aviation, including business aviation.
FMI: Gov. Fallin
Letter, Gov. Lynch
Letter