Curmudgeon's Corner

Intended Consequences...

Posted by Al Campbell on March 11, 2010

Economy, Healthcare, Political, Quality of Life

There are “unintended” consequences in legislation that rise up to bite us quite often.  It seems that there are also “intended” consequences and those can be even more costly to us citizens than the others.

A case in point is the renewal of the authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that could be voted upon in the Senate as early as today.  There is a manager’s amendment (language inserted by the bill manager that need not have been discussed in any hearings or debated before being voted upon) contained in this bill from the House when it came across to the Senate for approval.

That language would require that Fed Ex follow labor laws that were originally intended to apply only to ground transportation.  This is a behind-the-scenes battle mounted by labor to make Fed Ex follow the union organizing requirements with which UPS is saddled today.  These rules do not now apply to packages transported by air and Fed Ex does some 85% of its business by air.  Fed Ex has an advantage over UPS as the result.  It is obvious that organized labor is being very good about making political contributions.

The Post Office uses Fed Ex for about 80% of its air needs each night since it gets a better price from Fed Ex.  That better price is possible as the result of union contracts that add higher costs for UPS.  Fed Ex is reported to deliver some 3.5 million packages on 2,600 flights using 600 aircraft every night.

If the Senate follows a similar path with this bill, we will have been hit by an “intended” consequence that labor extracted in return for its support of the majority party.

This is an excellent example of just how compromised our government has become.  It makes the old bromide about watching sausage being made spring to life.

How many such little things get foisted upon us in a given year?  We’ll likely not ever find the answer since the little things are buried in the bills by those whom we thought we had sent to represent us.  It seems they do a much better job of representing themselves.

Is it any wonder that our elected officials are held in such low regard when people are polled on that subject?  Is it any wonder that we become suspicious of government at any level? 

If these things can be buried in simple legislation, what can be buried in 2,700 page bills about health care?  This makes the quote from Nancy Pelosi all the more understandable.  She said that, “We have to pass this bill so you’ll know what’s in it”, as she discussed health care reform a few days ago.

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The Curmudgeon Blog for today is titled "30% Tax Increase?".