Bavarian Chef
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- Feb 8, 2006
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Legislation that would phase out the Wright Amendment appears to be speeding through the House of Representatives, but it has encountered some “unexpected trouble” in the Senate, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (free registration). The paper notes that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, “put the legislation on dual legislative tracks in the Senate to ease passage,” but says both efforts have run into trouble. One potential roadblock comes from Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who said he objected to the one of the two tracks, which would attach the Wright legislation to a funding bill. Leahy says that violates a Senate rule against legislating in a funding bill. “It has some antitrust areas in it,” Leahy is quoted as saying by the Star-Telegram. “It’s on an appropriations bill. I’m not eager to legislate on an appropriations bill.”
On the other front, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. says he’s concerned about how the repeal legislation would impact New York-based JetBlue Airways. The repeal measure was the result of a local compromise reached by various Texas parties. But it calls for reducing and capping the gates at Dallas Love Field –- something critics say could freeze out new airlines wanting to add service to that airport. Though Schumer could hold up a separate bill that eventually would repeal the Wright Amendment, he says he has no plans to do so. But Schumer does say that he wants to try “to work everything out so everyone can be happy.” It’s a different story for the Wright legislation in the House. There, the measure could be voted on as early as next week, according to the Star-Telegram.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/
On the other front, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. says he’s concerned about how the repeal legislation would impact New York-based JetBlue Airways. The repeal measure was the result of a local compromise reached by various Texas parties. But it calls for reducing and capping the gates at Dallas Love Field –- something critics say could freeze out new airlines wanting to add service to that airport. Though Schumer could hold up a separate bill that eventually would repeal the Wright Amendment, he says he has no plans to do so. But Schumer does say that he wants to try “to work everything out so everyone can be happy.” It’s a different story for the Wright legislation in the House. There, the measure could be voted on as early as next week, according to the Star-Telegram.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/
