FAA stalemate costing US government millions

Story from Here and Now.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been in partial shutdown since July 22, when House and Senate negotiations over extending funding for the agency broke down.

Already, 4,000 FAA employees have been furloughed, more than 200 construction projects have been halted and an estimated 70,000 other private-sector workers affected.

The stalemate is costing the Federal government nearly $30 million in uncollected airline ticket taxes every day, and has the White House asking Congress to interrupt its vacation to settle the issue.

Republicans and Democrats are divided over two issues: Subsidies to small airports, and a rule change that would make it easier for airline workers to unionize that is being fought by Delta Airlines.

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