Russ Feingold: “I plan to vote against cloture on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2115 because it would permit the contracting…”

“I plan to vote against cloture on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2115 because it would permit the contracting out of certain air traffic controller positions currently filled by Federal Government employees. I do not support efforts to contract out air traffic controller positions because these positions are vital to our national security. I regret that the FAA conference report does not include language passed by both the Senate and the House--which I supported--that would have prohibited the administration from contracting out these important positions. I support the funding for airports and airline industries in our country that this bill contains and it is not my intention to slow down funding for airports or airlines. However, the safety of Americans must outweigh the possibility of airlines and airports being temporarily inconvenienced. Supporters of this legislation will argue that airport construction projects will be delayed if we do not pass this bill soon. However, how can the lives of Americans be compared to the value of construction projects? Airport projects are certainly important, but the lives of Americans are worth a slight delay in the passage of this bill. Safety is one of the most important elements of this bill for me and for Wisconsin residents.”