Orrin Hatch: “I want to take a few minutes to explain my objection to the legislation just offered by my esteemed colleague. I want to…”

“I want to take a few minutes to explain my objection to the legislation just offered by my esteemed colleague. I want to make it absolutely clear that a long-term FAA reauthorization is a priority for this country and a priority for myself, and I have said as much repeatedly. The consent request just offered by my colleague, even if accepted, would not prevent a lapse of current law. As my colleagues are likely aware, the House has completed legislative business for the week, so the only way to prevent a disruption to FAA funding is to pass Chairman Mica's bill the House passed earlier this week. I worked with Finance Committee Chairman Baucus to report a tax title from the Finance Committee to the bill that passed the Senate earlier this year. However, since then progress on a long-term reauthorization has been slow. I share House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Mica's frustration that favors to organized labor have overshadowed the prospects for long-term FAA reauthorization. Last year the National Mediation Board changed the rules under which employees of airlines and railroads are able to unionize. For decades the standard has been that a majority of employees would have to agree in an election to form a union. However, the new National Mediation Board rules changed that standard so that all it takes to unionize is a majority of employees voting.…”