Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8) issued the following statement Friday following a House vote to pass a bipartisan measure transferring funds within the Federal Aviation Administration's FY13 budget to alleviate the need for furloughs to U.S. air traffic controllers:
"Today, along with level-headed lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, I voted to pass a piece of legislation that restructures the FAA's budget to avoid the furloughing of air traffic controllers.
Unfortunately, the Administration has sought to be as disruptive as possible in implementing sequester cuts. Similarly, the FAA acted irresponsibly by not planning for their four percent sequester cuts or utilizing the flexibility already in their budget which were pending for over a year and a half. In fact, the FAA's budget this year even with sequester cuts was higher than the amount they requested. The FAA needs to stop playing politics and get back to work for the American people.
As a former County Commissioner I was required to balance a budget every year and sometimes that meant making tough decisions for the good of the taxpayers. It was my goal to make the cuts as efficient as possible- accomplishing the most while affecting the fewest. This is apparently a case either the FAA or the Administration failed to lead."