MPA LEGISLATION REPORT
March 2009

GREETINGS! First, Here is an update from Washington, D.C. $7 Billion in Aviation User Fees in Obama Budget. Aviation groups are raising alarm after combing President Barack Obama's first budget and finding the term "direct user charges" in relation to FAA funding. In fact, the Obama administration targets raising $7 billion annually, roughly half the FAA's budget by "repealing some aviation excise taxes and replacing these taxes with direct user charges." The changes would begin in 2011. The language is on page 129 of the budget. General Aviation groups are unanimous in their opposition to the language.

Secondly, Both Airports Council International-North and the American Association of Airport Executives testified to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the need to direct economic stimulus funding to airport capital improvement projects.

John Clark, ACI-NA chair and director of Jacksonville International, urges Congress to inject some $3 billion into such projects. He related to the committee that airports get most of the funding for capital projects from the issuance of bonds; however, turmoil in the credit markets has made issuing bonds difficult for airports. 'That is why AIP funds are so important, " Clark says. "Airports have over $3 billion in AIP-approved projects that are ready to go in the next two years. Guaranteed funding from the federal government through the AIP program will ensure shovels in the ground at airports both large and small across the country in as little as 30 to 45 days after the enactment of…legislation."

Thirdly, Government Accounting Office (GAO) removes FAA's NextGen ATC modernization program from its 2009 High-Risk List because of FAA's progress in addressing most of the root causes of past problems and the agency's commitment to sustaining progress. FAA's efforts have been yielded result, including deploying new systems across the country and incurring fewer cost overruns, says GAO, which added FAA Air Traffic Control Modernization to the High-Risk List in 1995. www.gao.gov.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session (2009)
Bills Indexed by Subject
AIRCRAFT AND AIRPORTS

HB 737 --- Sponsor: Schaaf, Robert
Decreases the percentage of an aircraft's true value in money to 7% when assessing personal property tax on certain aircraft
SB 535 --- Sponsor: Days, Rita D.
Creates the crime of breach airport security

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Note: Here's your web site address for Texas Legislation: www.texas.gov.
Look for Transportation-Aviation, to search all Aviation Bills.

Note: Here's your web site address for Illinois Legislation: www.illinois.gov.
Look for Transportation-Aviation, to search all Aviation Bills.

All other states should follow this same format, to search your specific state's aviation and airport bills.

Remember, that as members of USPA, MPA, TPA, TXAA, NMPA, NPA, IPA, EAA, AOPA, or other pilot associations of which you may be a member, we have a powerful voice, in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, or whatever state you may represent. Every group of taxpayers and pilots carries a strong voice to Washington, D.C., as well as at the state and local level.
We need to learn how to use our voices, and speak up for general aviation.

So Let's not forget to exercise our privileges, and continue to make a "Difference for General Aviation."

SAFE FLYING!