A case for Ronald Reagan conservatism, it wasn’t.
The Republican head of a congressional panel offered substantive ideological criticism of President Trump’s proposal to privatize the US air traffic control system.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), chair of the House appropriations subcommittee on transportation, said on Thursday that he was concerned the Trump administration is working to establish an unaccountable “corporate monopoly.”
“I’m concerned that the proposal would reduce or even eliminate, frankly, the public’s voice in something as critical as our national air traffic controller,” Diaz-Balart said.
He said that the only proposed oversight of the system, thus far, would come from “an unaccountable corporate board,” and added that the body wouldn’t “do anything other than support the issues of their industries.”
The subcommittee chair then called the incumbent system “imperfect” but praised government ownership, saying it “offers a guaranteed voice to the public interest.”
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who was testifying before the panel, pushed back, saying the administration’s plans would alleviate air traffic congestion.
Chao also alleged that Federal Aviation Administration control creates a “conflict of interest of the air traffic control system regulating its own safety.”
When asked by Diaz-Balart about how consumers could challenge fees charged by the proposed board, Chao said that members of the public can “appeal to their congressmen and senators.”
That answer may not have sat well with Democratic lawmakers who were pressing Chao about a recent administration memo instructing agencies in May to respond to minority leaders oversight requests only “when possible,” as the Secretary put it.
“I think each of us, Democrat or Republican, deserve a response,” Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) told Chao. Lowey is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee.
“I will try my best,” Chao replied.
“Just say: ‘Yes, of course, I’ll respond to you,’” Lowey answered.
“I can’t quite say that,” Chao said.
On June 6, President Trump proposed selling off FAA ownership of the air traffic control system to “one great company that can piece it all together.”
