U.S. Congressman LOUIE GOHMERT: Proudly Serving the First District of Texas

Washington -  Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement today after learning about the decision to close the air traffic control tower at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport:

“This decision made by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close the air traffic control tower at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is an unnecessary and dangerous move decided by political hacks. Rather than looking at the wasteful spending within the FAA itself, lavish over-expenditures in other areas, this administration has decided to endanger American lives by shutting down 40 percent of this nation’s towers for a ‘budget cutting measure.’

It’s more than disturbing that the Obama Administration is willingly deciding to punish Americans by first, cancelling White House tours and now shutting down 149 air towers countrywide – all masked as a sequestration measure. It is evident that their priorities do not align on the side of the hardworking American people. While countless people will now be out of work in a debt laden economy and the President originally projected doom and gloom, the House of Representatives has cut its own budget over 11 percent in the last two years and is now cutting an additional 8 percent under the sequester without cutting any constituent services.

It should also be understood that the President has grown government in four years by about 20 percent so the sequester meant that government should only be 18 percent larger. There is certainly no evidence from the President that he is cutting anything that affects him personally, but only cutting things that adversely affect other Americans. There is something wrong with this picture. It’s time to cut true government waste like Obamacare – and stop putting everyone else at risk.”

Earlier this month, Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) fired off a letter to the FAA seeking answers as to why the FAA would take action to put Americans at risk when there is no need to make such sweeping airport cuts across the nation. To read his letter, click here.

Congressman Louie Gohmert is the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, Louie was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas. He also served as Chief Justice of Texas'12th Court of Appeals.

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