Rep. John Mica on the Politics Behind the FAA Shutdown

The Takeaway

Partisan fighting over the debt ceiling on Capitol Hill has affected more than just the markets.  Over the weekend, Congress failed to pass a funding extension for the Federal Aviation Administration, following a disagreement over cuts in subsidies. As a result,  the U.S. government was forced to suspend collection of federal airline taxes, at a loss of approximately $200 million per week. The F.A.A had to furlough 4,000 employees, and airport modernization projects worth billions of dollars are now on hold. Congressman John Mica  is a Republican representative from Florida’s seventh district. He says the Democrats are to blame for the F.A.A shutdown.

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