By: Kerry Lynch
The governor of Idaho, C.L. (Butch) Otter, has joined the growing number of state and local legislators to recognize the importance of general aviation to their region, this time with a letter to President Barack Obama urging caution on imposing new fees that could burden the industry.
“Raising taxes on critical sectors of our economy will do us more harm than good by putting more jobs at risk,” Otter says in his letter.
“As one of the few manufacturing sectors that contribute to the balance of trade, general aviation has been hit hard by the economic downturn with the loss of more than 20,000 aviation-sector employees.”
He adds that general aviation provides a “critical connection” to global markets for all states, including Idaho.”What’s more, general aviation plays a crucial public role every day through crop protection, disaster response, law enforcement, or critically needed services such as blood, organ or patient transportation,” the governor says.
The letter follows similar correspondence that 100 mayors from 48 states sent to the president after the White House included a $100per-flight user fee in its budget.
Separately, 37 states have adopted proclamations highlighting the importance of aviation, and general aviation in particular.
Source: The Weekly of Business Aviation
Date: 2012-04-14