This is about moochers taking money from those who work for a living.
On June 26, Mo Brooks (R, AL5) was one of 77 Republicans who voted with Nancy Pelosi and 161 Democrats to keep the Essential Air Service program alive. The Amendment to kill the program failed on a vote of 164 to 238. Alabama Congressmen Aderholt and Rogers also voted to keep the program alive. In fact, Spencer Bachus was the only congressman from Alabama to vote to kill. See Roll Call vote 417 here.
Essential Air Service is a temporary program begun 34 years ago in 1978 to help communities adjust to the deregulation which allowed airlines to set routes and fares themselves. The $200 million program serves 152 communities. Read more here.
Senator Harry Reid’s stake, based on 2010 data, was a subsidy of $1.8 million for Ely, Nevada for 227 passengers that bought tickets for as little as $70. That’s over $4,000 for a one way ticket. Ely is about 250 miles from Las Vegas.
The Florence and Muscle Shoals, Alabama airport is in Mr. Brooks’ district and receives an above average subsidy of over $2.5 million. The airport is about 60 miles from Huntsville and 150 miles from Memphis.
EAS is all boondoggle and pure pork. The House GOP could have terminated the program. They did not. If they cannot cut here, there is little hope they will ever cut anything.
You can contact Mr. Brooks using his email form or call his office at 202-225-4801.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Even Mo Brooks supports the pork when it benefits him.
This program needs to be ended.