Thursday, Jul 28 2011 3:53PM
Work on a construction project at McCarran International Airport has been put on hold, leaving many rural workers without steady paychecks.
Many workers hired to complete construction projects at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas won't be able to work until federal lawmakers settle a debate regarding subsidies for one of the state's rural airports.
The Las Vegas Sun reports legislators are continuing to discuss whether to cut a subsidy for White Pine County Airport in Ely. If the subsidy is cut, the airport would likely be shut down, affecting transportation needs of numerous rural residents.
Additionally, construction workers for the McCarran project are being told by lawmakers to stay home until the subsidy talks end because their supervisor has been furloughed. That development will leave many employees without pay for an extended period.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stated he opposes the cuts and wants lawmakers to resolve the issue soon so rural residents can get back to work.
"Despite the thousands of workers furloughed and vital job-creating construction projects halted in Nevada and throughout the country, House Republicans are nowhere to be found — refusing to come back to the negotiating table after pulling yet another cheap political stunt at the expense of rural Americans," Reid said in a statement.