John Mica knows the clock is ticking on the FAA fight.
Rep. John Mica (R-FL), chair of the House Transportation Committee, is trying a big public relations turnaround regarding the recent FAA shutdown. Specifically, he wants people to forget that he caused it, and why.
First, he went to Dana Milbank and whined about how he lost, and it got personal. Now, Political Correction finds him writing a letter to the editor of the Florida Times-Union, claiming the shutdown was all the fault of the Democrats and that he himself had been an innocent in the whole thing. In fact,
The American people and I are tired of Congress' inaction in addressing important policy issues.
Yes, it's such an outrage that sometimes when Republicans take a hostage, Democrats don't immediately hand over whatever ransom is demanded, up to and including body parts of the hostage they're trying to save.
The big thing here, though, is that Mica has a very good reason for trying to turn his image around quickly: The short-term FAA extension that ultimately ended the shutdown only extends to September 16. So as soon as Congress is back in session, the FAA is once again in play. Mica is trying to gain the upper hand in those negotiations. He would use that upper hand to push the Republican demand that in union representation elections, people who do not vote at all are counted as having voted no, a standard by which he himself (and every other member of Congress) would not have been elected.
The Communications Workers of America, not having enough on their plate with the Verizon strike, are organizing actions to put the pressure (PDF) on Congress now rather than waiting until crisis is imminent. September 16 is not that far away.