Compromise for cut in rural air-service subsidy delayed, FAA partially shut, by political dispute

A Republican effort to put an obstacle to union organizing into a must-pass appropriations bill has forced a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration and put on hold a House-Senate compromise that would stop the Essential Air Service subsidy for 13 rural airports.

Senate Democrats are "opposed to language attached to the bill by House Republicans that would have made it more difficult for railroad and airline workers to unionize," Nathan Hurst of The Detroit News reports. "Under the GOP-backed proposal, all votes not cast in a unionizing election would count as 'no' votes. Currently, National Mediation Board rules dictate only cast votes are counted one way or another." (Read more)