We object!

From Reuters:

The White House urged congressional negotiators on Tuesday to limit any aid to struggling airlines to losses related to the Iraq war, and did not support extending jobless benefits for unemployed industry workers. ...

Big airlines have eliminated 10,000 jobs and thousands of flights since the start of the war. That came on top of the 100,000 jobs and wholesale schedule and fleet cuts the industry imposed after the 2001 hijack attacks on New York and Washington. Two big carriers have also declared bankruptcy. ...

What the White House said it would not support was a proposed 26-week extension of jobless benefits that would cost $225 million. Daniels said the government has already done this nationwide and to now single out a specific industry for extra help would be wrong.

"The conferees are urged to drop this objectionable provision," Daniels said.

Wait a minute. 10,000 jobs have been lost since the start of the war. The White House only wants aid for losses related to the war. But it doesn't want aid for airline workers who have lost jobs because of the war.

posted by Quiddity at 4/09/2003 10:24:00 AM