----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
I did write my congressman. (Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI) I was not encouraged. He mentioned the 'Airport and Airway Development and Revenue Act' of 1970, but then went on to say, "Unfortunately, the financial solvency of the aviation trust fund is in jeopardy. Overly optimistic revenue projections for the trust fund, combined with the poor economic condition of the aviation industry, have reduced revenues to the trust over the past few years." He went on to talk about FAA projects that have been contracted out, saving taxpayers 2.2 billion dollars. He also brought up a forum that the D.O.T & FAA administrator had with government officials in April 2005. He said the FAA is expected to release the results from the forum later this spring. He then finished up with this: "Currently, there is no proposal from the FAA or Congress that would impose some form of user fee on either the aviation industry or the taxpayer. The FAA is still working to find a way to solve the funding problems of the aviation trust fund, and has not endorsed any singled solution. Should a bill come before me on the House floor that addresses either the aviation trust fund or user fees, I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind." How very Washingtonian of him. (Perhaps he's been there too long.) I have always been a Ryan supporter. He and I have similar positions on most issues. I'm not sure this is one of them. But then again I'm not sure it isn't. I couldn't quite tell from his response. He didn't commit either way. So I forwarded it to AOPA's legal affairs department, and suggested that they might want to pay Mr. Ryan a visit. I'm also going to send it on to the EAA. (Mr. Ryan might have people...but so do I.) Michael Dean Lavelle Industries, Inc. Ph: 262-757-2237 Fax; 262-763-5607 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 11:15 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Activism against user fees ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- As I have said here before, this is the time for strong activism: 1. Support AOPA and EAA. Now! 2. Write to your congressmen and Senators. NOW! 3. If you happen to live in a community that has significant GA economic activity and is friendly to it, write to your local politicians (mayor, governor) and alert them. Tell them to start lobying with their higher (national) politicos about this. Sometimes politicos only listen to other politicos. Warning, don't do this in a GA unfriendly community, or with GA unfriendly politicos, as this will alert them to become active supporting user fees in order to supress GA. Eliacim N87071 ======================================================================== ====== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm ============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
