The Federal Aviation Administration has been saved from another shutdown. Even though both parties had agreed on the legislation extending the FAA's funding for another four months, Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn threatened to block the bill until what he saw as wasteful spending was removed. Last night Coburn agreed to let the bill pass if his language will be inserted into a longer-term highways bill that will be negotiated before funding expires in six months. Coburn wanted states to be able to opt out of a program requiring beautification projects like bike paths and sound walls. Four thousand workers would have been furloughed Saturday if the bill didn't pass.
