Changes In Congress Will Affect GA, Says AOPA

On Tuesday, voters changed the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives, and apparently the Senate, from Republican to Democratic, and this will have a positive impact for pilots, says AOPA President Phil Boyer. “Now we can be assured of a fair hearing from people who understand aviation and aren’t beholden to the White House,” Boyer said. Aviation user fees have been strongly pushed by the Bush administration. But the power shift in the House will most likely put Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., in charge of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he is a long-time friend to GA, AOPA said yesterday. Any law to change the way the FAA is funded will have to originate in Oberstar’s committee, and he would control what legislation gets passed out to the full House for a vote. He has historically opposed corporatizing or privatizing air traffic control, and he is highly skeptical of any changes to the current, proven FAA funding system, AOPA says. “We’re well positioned with the people newly in power who will, at the very least, listen to us,” Boyer said.