Senator Santorum's response to S. 65

[WorldOnTime]

More mature and reasoned political discourse from America's "loyal opposition."

Ahhh, nevermind.

 

[Grandpa +65]

sweeeeeeeettttt , another 5 years in the left seat. ( 21y. left)

 

[zonker]

The fact that he responded means nothing. It's just a form letter and very similar to the one I got from Jim Bunning, another brilliant legislator and co-sponsor of this bill.

By the way, I don't live in Pennsylvania and I sent money to Santorum's opponent, Bob Casey. Santorum can't be removed from office soon enough.

 

[QXpeon]

This is definitely a problem for those opposed to a rule change. Some of the lawmakers have already made up their minds and it doesn't really matter what their constituents say.

The old farts in Congress think that just because they sit around on their asses all day long doing nothing but spending tax dollars like they grow on trees that anybody can do their particular job up until they die in office at the ripe old age of 96 or so.

Too bad flying a jet isn't like sitting around in a cushy office in DC with a bunch of other windbags doing nothing and thinking that they still got it even though they can't even remember where they put their depends and viagra.

Chumps.

FJ

But you still vote for those old farts too........

 

[CTflyer]

This is definitely a problem for those opposed to a rule change. Some of the lawmakers have already made up their minds and it doesn't really matter what their constituents say.

The old farts in Congress think that just because they sit around on their asses all day long doing nothing but spending tax dollars like they grow on trees that anybody can do their particular job up until they die in office at the ripe old age of 96 or so.

Too bad flying a jet isn't like sitting around in a cushy office in DC with a bunch of other windbags doing nothing and thinking that they still got it even though they can't even remember where they put their depends and viagra.

Chumps.


FJ

I do not disagree with what you are saying Falcon, however the senator is correct. This rule (age 60) came about not thru any scientific studies, but
literally from an agreement between the FAA and the head of an airline back in those days....maybe AA....Kind of like a deal so to speak......

If anyone has the full details of how age 60 came about that would be great....

I have no problem with 60 or 65.....as long as there is some scientific evidence proving either one instead of some back room deal arbitrarily setting a number

 

[Oh-ryan]

Man this thread is going ugly early. Let's change the topic in the hopes that we can cool some tempers out there. How bout religion. I'll start:

My god is better than your god.

 

[climb2slow]

sound familiar?

This was the response I got from Mel Martinez on the issue.....

Thank you for contacting me regarding age restrictions and retirement benefits for commercial airline pilots. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to take this opportunity to respond.

The Age 65 Act (S. 65), which was introduced by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) on January 24, 2005, seeks to amend federal aviation law to increase the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 60 to 65. This measure would in effect tie the commercial pilot retirement age to the social security retirement age, prohibiting the Federal Aviation Administration from requiring commercial pilots to retire before they are eligible for Social Security benefits.

S. 65 was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where it was amended to allow pilots over 60 to fly if accompanied by a co-pilot who is 59 or younger. The committee approved this amendment pending its adoption by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which is set to meet on this issue in November 2006. S. 65 now awaits a vote before the full Senate.

A similar measure (H.R. 65) was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Jim Gibbons (R-NV) on January 4, 2005, and was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

S. 65 would protect workers’ rights both by rescinding an outdated, discriminatory regulation, and allowing thousands of pilots to continue to pay into their pensions and into Social Security. This particular economic advantage cannot be overlooked, especially considering the current fragile state of a number of airline pension programs.

The Senate’s major pension reform bill, the Pension Security and Transparency Act of 2005 (S. 1783), was passed with my support on November 16, 2005, by a vote of 97 to 2. During Senate floor debate of S. 1783, Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) offered the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Pilots Equitable Treatment Act (S. 685) as an amendment (S.Amdt. 2583) to this bill. Both S. 685 and its related amendment would require the PBGC to offer airline pilots, who are required by the FAA to retire at age 60, the maximum pension benefits allowed on terminated pension plans. S.Amdt. 2583 was adopted into S. 1783 by a vote of 58 to 41. Differences between the House- and Senate-passed pension reform legislation must now be reconciled through a conference committee before further action can be taken.

Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. If you have any further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Mel Martinez
United States Senator

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Man this thread is going ugly early. Let's change the topic in the hopes that we can cool some tempers out there. How bout religion. I'll start:

My god is better than your god.

I believe that God really wants the Dallas Cowboys to win....

Tejas

 

[IAHERJ]

I believe that God really wants the Dallas Cowboys to win....



Then why did he allow Jerry Jones to own the team?? I hope he continues to get what he deserves with TO.

Anyway, to get back from the thread drift. I've got 30 years left. I'm here to tell you all that when I have only 5 years left, I'm going to push for the age 65 limit to be repealed and changed to age 70. I hope all you young guys jump on my bandwagon in 25 years. Screw all the other pilots junior to us who signed on to this career knowing that the retirement age was 65!! It's my turn!! I think limiting a pilot to age 65 is a form of age descrimination!! Therefore 70 sounds better.

Okay the above was tounge in cheak but you get my point. We all signed up for this gig knowing that we needed to get our affairs in order and ready to walk out at 60. I'm sorry of our guys at CAL(especially those with "super seniority") who got to fly in the left seat for 20 years due to the rapid retirements in the early 80's feel that they are not ready to leave. Hell, most still have the lump sum!! This is the same selfish "me" attitude that caused so many to come to work here in 1983/1984. Sorry, but it is time to go.

IAHERJ

 

[stonewall]

70 is the new 60!!