Senate user fee bill takes shape

Via ATA's SmartBrief:

"Senators' ATC funding bill has key differences from FAA proposal
Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Trent Lott, R-Miss., plan to introduce a bill this week that would change the funding of the air traffic control system. The FAA would be authorized to "impose a surcharge of $25 [per IFR flight] for air traffic control costs," according to the April 27 staff draft. Exemptions to this surcharge would be given to traditional propeller planes, the vast majority of which are single-engine, and some of the larger turbine-powered propeller planes. Additionally, The Hill newspaper reports the bill would phase out a fuel tax paid by airlines, increase a fuel tax from 21 to 49 cents per gallon for smaller turbine-engine planes, and not include any tax or fee changes to planes that run on piston-fired propeller engines. Unlike a bill backed by the FAA, this proposal would not replace a ticket tax paid by passengers on commercial airlines with the new user fees and taxes. The Hill (5/2), National Journal (subscription required)/Congress Daily (5/2)"