GOP Rep. Mica: Repeal of union rules will survive in FAA bill

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) predicted Tuesday that a change to union organization rules for railroad and airline employee would not be removed from the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.

Under rules adopted last year by the National Mediation Board, only a majority of workers present need to vote to form a union for it to be certified.

But a provision in the FAA reauthorization bill would roll back the union rule and return to the old standard, under which non-votes are considered 'no' votes.

Reps. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) have filed an amendment to the FAA bill that would strip out the union provision.

Like most observers, Mica predicted the vote on the union rules would be contentious. But he also predicted the LaTourette-Costello amendment would be defeated.

"I know that doesn't make Rachel Maddow very happy," Mica said of the MSNBC host who has criticized the labor rules. "I'm one of her [least] favorite people in the world. I kind of miss [former MSNBC host] Keith Olbermann."

Mica also touched on other aviation issues in his roughly 20-minute speech to the AeroClub. He criticized recent calls to increase staffing in airport flight towers after an air traffic controller was found to be sleeping at Washington's Reagan National Airport.

Instead, Mica said, the FAA should hire controllers who can keep the hours they are scheduled to work.

"As I understand it, he was by himself for one hour and 28 minutes," Mica said. "If you can't stay awake until midnight, there is something wrong with you. It doesn't require us doubling up."

Mica also kept up his criticisms of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which he helped create through legislation in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2011, terrorist attacks. Mica said the agency has sprawled to become "bigger than five government agencies" and is in need of reform.

"The bad news is I created TSA," he said. "The good news is, I'm chairman, and I'm going to get them."

Mica said he would continue to push to privatize more airport screeners.

"I envision TSA getting out of the personnel business," he said. "We've got to do a better job utilizing our resources."