John Thune actually said...

"I think the approach works a lot better when you're not threatening, but using a carrot, rather than a stick."

"I think Secretary LaHood said it best: both work, and the issue ultimately is a policy one left to the Congress."

"I'm much more comfortable with the type of approach that is incentive-based, uses the carrot, rather than the stick."

"I guess I'm just suggesting that there is a point at which quantity does matter where you have enough experience and enough hours operating some of these aircraft."