Airlines, Small-Jet Owners Seek $4 Billion in U.S. Stimulus Aid

[rsmith6621]

By John Hughes

Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. airlines and small-jet owners have joined forces to lobby for $4 billion in economic-stimulus aid, setting aside a two-year dispute over air-traffic control costs.

Nine Washington-area trade groups representing carriers, plane users such as PepsiCo Inc., and manufacturers including Boeing Co. are seeking aid to advance the government’s so-called Next Generation overhaul of air-traffic control technology. They say they want to ensure lawmakers don’t overlook aviation in the $775 billion stimulus plan proposed by President-elect Barack Obama.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aaPH0ZLU6.zo&refer=home

[Occam Bandage]

1. I agree that ATC desperately needs an overhaul, and that doing so would allow the nation's

near-capacity aviation infrastructure to continue to expand to meet demand. However, I don't like the atmosphere that's developing around this bill; it's become clear the corporate sharks are smelling fresh, delicious taxpayer-dollar blood.