US House passes FAA bill objected to by airlines and White House

The US House of Representatives last week passed an FAA reauthorization bill that provides more than $67 billion to fund the agency's operations through 2011, but the legislation contains a number of provisions objected to by the White House and airlines and that puts it in conflict with a proposed Senate version. The bill, which passed by a vote of 267-151, would increase fuel taxes on airlines by 25% to 24.2 cents per gal. and raise the cap on passenger facility charges from $4.50 to $7. ...