WASHINGTON, DC, February 5, 2007 – Despite projections of record aviation trust fund revenues generated by a sound system of aviation excise taxes, the Bush Administration today released a fiscal year 2008 federal budget that scraps the current funding mechanism for one that would impose a "user fee” regime. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) issued the following statement regarding the release of the budget:

"With this proposal, the Bush Administration opened a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of user fees which I can only hope Congress will be able to slam shut," said GAMA’s President and CEO, Pete Bunce.

"GAMA is categorically opposed to user fees of any type and on any segment of the aviation community. We look forward to working with Congress to defeat this ill-advised proposal.”