'When management tells the union people, we want you all to take your furlough the same day so we shut down the airlines in America, I would tell you, there's where your problem is'◼ FAA Furlough Causes Flight Delays Across U.S. - FOX
Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) revealed he has gained access to a letter from an anonymous whistle blower inside the FAA Thursday on CNBC.
The letter accuses the federal agency of encouraging all union employees take the same furlough days in a coordinated effort to disrupt air travel...
If true, the letter would provide further evidence the Obama Administration is politically engineering sequester cuts to cause pain among the general population.
The attempted political manipulation of air traffic controller furlough days is the latest in a series of sequester cuts that have raised ire among critics as being politically motivated and unnecessary.
The Obama Administration fell under criticism in March for suspending White House tours. The Secret Service has remained steadfast in maintaining the suspension, despite the policy change netting a paltry savings of $74,000 per week.
◼ The Democrats proposed sequestration as part of a package to secure an increase in the debt ceiling, but they never expected it to go into effect. - John Hinderaker/Powerline
When it did, they felt double-crossed, apparently because they thought Republicans owed it to them to fold like a cheap suit, as usual. When the Republicans figured out that sticking with the sequester was a pretty good outcome–it represented a modest, but real, restraint on federal spending, which is what Republicans always say they want–the Democrats went to Plan B.◼ Airlines Seek Clarity On Staffing Shortage - Wall St. Journal
It’s a strategy they have often used before: cut back on services that voters care about, and blame the resulting pain on those who “cut” the budget, i.e., prevented it from increasing as fast as the Democrats would like....
The sequester, of course, is not a problem that needs a “solution,” as The Hill put it. Rather, it is the most meaningful effort in a long time to restrain the growth of federal spending.
U.S. budget-cut-induced furloughs led to staff shortages Wednesday at facilities in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Tampa, said the Federal Aviation Administration, with more than half of the delays endured by travelers on Tuesday attributed to a lack of controllers forcing planes to fly farther apart. The agency, which has been criticized by airlines and lawmakers for how it implemented the staff cuts, said labor shortages contributed to delays Wednesday being concentrated at Chicago O'Hare, Las Vegas and Tampa.◼ No furloughs for ObamaCare officials - The Hill
The fact that ObamaCare officials haven't been furloughed shows that the cuts are political, Rep. Greg Harper (R-Miss.) said Wednesday.◼ FAA says furloughs over, flights back to normal by Sunday - Stephen Dinan/Washington Times
"We're talking about at least a 15 percent furlough of current air-traffic controllers, resulting in delays and perhaps safety concerns, but yet this has been a selective political item by the administration," Harper said.
