White House: Congress Must Pass FAA Extension

BY Andy Wiltrout

White House spokesman Jay Carney challenged lawmakers to quickly resolve a dispute over FAA funding that left the jobs of 74,000 federal government employees and contractors in the balance.

Carney urged members of Congress to pass a short-term extension via unanimous consent, meaning that lawmakers would not have to interrupt their August recess to fly back to DC and vote. Carney noted that Congress has voted 20 times to extend funding since 2007.

“At a time when we’re trying to grow the economy and create jobs, it is simply not acceptable for Congress,  because of political disputes, to take the measures it has taken in the past to allow for these these folks to maintain their jobs.”

Carney said that President Obama has been active in pressuring lawmakers to end the stalemate, and has spoken via telephone to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to find out what needs to be done to reach an agreement.