BBB: Raid on DC airport leases fails

U.S. Senate ^ | 7/1/2025 | NA

[Redmen4ever]

On the Amendment (Warner Amdt. No. 2847); Use of revenues from lease payments from Metropolitan Washington Airports for aviation safety improvements and other purposes; Failed 50 to 50

[Redmen4ever]

Per 49 U.S. Code § 49104, lease payments on the DC airports are to be used for airport purposes; these payments are not supposed to be a slush fund for other purposes. With this restriction on the use of DC lease payments, the lease payments are essentially a user tax; that is, a tax that benefits those who pay the tax. But, Sen. Warner of VA, a Democrat, wanted to raid these lease payments for the more general purpose of aviation safety, benefiting all who fly.

Warner's amendment is the second proposed amendment to the Big Beautiful Bill to fail on a 50-50 vote. That is, it picked up three Republican votes (in addition to all 47 Democrat votes). The Democrats have yet to pass any of their amendments.

The three Republicans voting with the Democrats this time were: Sen. Collins of ME and Sen. Murkowski of AK (our weak sisters) and Sen. Moran of KS (!). (Sen. Moran is usually a dependable vote. I have no idea why he voted with the Democrats on this amendment.)

Admittedly, this amendment isn't the worst amendment proposed by the Democrats. I bring this vote to your attention only because it came close to passing.

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Where’s Vance?

[BobL]

If this country wants decent airports (as Trump has stated he wants), then we need to move airports out of the control of big city Potentates and at least into the control of state governments, or just privatize them altogether.

[Redmen4ever]

If Vance had wanted the amendment to pass, he would have voted “aye.” As it is, the amendment failed, 50 to 50. VPs only vote in the affirmative to break a tie.

[Redmen4ever]

Like just about everything else, running an airport involves complex tradeoffs among quantity, quality and variety. The tendency of government-run business is to go overboard in original construction, hire over-priced and superfluous labor, and short-shrift operating expenses and maintenance. Because of monopoly and public safety, maybe government has a role to play in regulating airports. But, yes, I agree with you, it’s a mistake for government to own or operate airports. Local ownership (whether private, local or state government, with private being the best) and federal regulation sounds like a good strategy.