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Senate Democrats unveiled their alternative for airline relief
legislation during the weekend, and while it would cost more than the
Republican version, they claim it would provide more relief to airlines and
extend aid to furloughed aviation workers. The Congressional Budget
Office has not analyzed the
Democrat alternative, but it is expected to be
considerably more expensive than the $2.8 billion package Republicans want
to add to the 2003 supplemental Appropriations bill. The Democrats’ bill
will be introduced by Appropriations transportation subcommittee ranking
member Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) as an amendment to the supplemental
bill.
Revenue Crisis
Murray said
her version “will address the airlines’ near-term revenue crisis by getting
more dollars into their hands more quickly than under the GOP plan.”
Her bill proposes suspending passenger and carrier security fees for a
longer period than the Republican version does, according to a summary
released by Murray’s office. It
also includes money for airport security modifications.
The Republican bill reportedly proposes reimbursing $1.1
billion in security costs to airlines, suspending the security fees for six
months, and extending war-risk insurance provisions. -AS
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