Senate OKs 30-day extension of FAA bill

For the second time this week, the Senate today approved a 30-day extension of federal aviation excise taxes and spending authority, as well as FAA funding authorization, before the provisions expire March 31. The second vote was needed after the Senate Thursday approved a tax extension that was required to originate in the House. Later Thursday evening, the House approved the extension, which is what the Senate cleared today. The 30-day extension was needed to give lawmakers more time to agree on a multiyear FAA reauthorization bill. An initial three-month FAA extension was held up in the Senate this week due to concern there over an attached highway spending fix agreed to by House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The deal has been criticized by lawmakers representing states that would lose out in some funding for projects deemed to be of national or regional significance.