http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15721826/from/RS.4/The new Democratic leadership in Congress on Tuesday called for a rethink of plans to give overseas investors more say in the running of US airlines, dealing a potentially critical blow to efforts to forge a new transportation deal with the European Union.
The tentative transatlantic "open skies" pact agreed a year ago has been left in limbo by fierce opposition in Congress to the parallel investment reforms, led by James Oberstar, the ranking Democrat on the House transportation and infrastructure committee.
Mr Oberstar is set to take over the chairmanship of the committee in January, and reaffirmed his opposition on Tuesday to the proposed changes first detailed by the administration a year ago.
The Department of Transportation wants to ease restrictions on the involvement of overseas investors in the running of US airlines, though statutory restrictions on ownership levels would remain unchanged.
"We need to go back and think it over," Mr Oberstar said of the plan as he outlined his priorities at a briefing in Washington on Tuesday, suggesting there would be no progress ahead of a meeting of EU transport ministers next month.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
