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a time when Americans are stockpiling antibiotics, avoiding airline
travel, and thinking twice before opening their mail, how can we
get the reassurance we need? The New York Times has the answer:
Pass campaign-finance regulations! An editorial today concludes
with these words: "It has never been more critical for the
American people to have confidence in the motives behind the federal
government's every action. The terror attacks and their aftermath
have actually made it more important than ever that the Shays-Meehan
bill become law." Of course it does.
Flash back
to three days ago, when the Times blasted Republicans for "exploiting
a tragic national emergency" and trying "to piggyback
pet ideological measures on top of legislation to carry out the
country's most urgent priorities."
Labor Pains
Senator Kit Bond, Republican of Missouri, is trying to exploit the
situation too — in his case, to help the TWA workers' union.
When American Airlines bought TWA, one of the conditions of the
deal was that American was under no obligation to treat TWA employees'
seniority claims on an equal basis with those of their own employees.
American made it clear that it would not make the purchase absent
that condition. If it had not, TWA would almost certainly have gone
under. A bankruptcy court approved the deal.
Now Bond (and,
in the House, Jo Ann Emerson) wants to change its terms. As his
press release puts it, he "is seeking federal legislation to
settle fairly seniority issues between American Airlines and TWA
workers." He says that a "fair" settlement is "especially"
important "in the wake of the uncertainty and confusion caused
by the September 11th terrorist attacks and the industry problems
that have followed."
But creating
a precedent that tells airlines that their court-approved contracts
can be overridden by politicians is no way to reduce uncertainty
and confusion. At a time when many industry analysts believe consolidation
is necessary, Bond's legislation would get in the way.
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