The Federal Aviation Administration is in a partial shutdown today after lawmakers were unable to agree on a funding extension for the agency by a midnight deadline.
The stalemate over FAA funding means the agency is now temporarily unable to collect taxes and fees on airline tickets. Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood says that will cost the government $200 million a week.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) says it will also cost thousands of FAA employees their paychecks.
"It's going to furlough 4,000 FAA employees, including 975 here in our region," he says. "None of that serves the public, and ironically, we're going to lose money."
Senate democrats refuse to vote for a bill crafted by House republicans, which includes a provision making it more difficult for airline and rail workers to unionize. It also cuts back subsidies to rural airports, another provision democrats would like to keep.
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