'Dollars and sense': The contest for the Aviation Trust Funds in the congressional arena, 1998--2000

This dissertation will examine why Congress uses special purpose trust funds for other purposes. The research project employed the case study and participant observation approaches in examining the problem. The research project looks at how Congress authorized and appropriated funds contained in the Aviation Trust Fund from 1998–2000 and what role interest groups played in determining how Congress distributed the aviation trust funds.; The Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970 provided grants for airport planning and development from the Planning Grant Program and the Airport Development Aid Program. In an effort to address the public and private demand for aviation services, Congress established a governmental funding mechanism specifically for airports. The act created the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, based on user taxes on air fares, fuel and air cargo. Yet, Congress has utilized these funds for purposes of their own and not the intent of the legislation, to that end, the study examines the vehicles used by Congress to distribute these expenditures.; The Aviation Trust Fund policy was chosen not only for its impact on social groups, but also to characterize legislators' goals and preferences. The policy demonstrates macro and micro conceptualizations of the policy process. The macro level is illustrated through an examination of the interest group liberalism theory. The interest group liberalism theory was chosen above other theories of public policy formulation because it best describes the behavioral interaction between groups and policy makers within the public policy formulation arena. The micro level is illustrated through an examination of the chaos theory. The chaos theory was chosen above other theories of congressional decision making because it belongs to the rational and “individual” actor theories.; This study provides explanations as to why when Congress is confronted with the problem of deciding whether to use special purpose trust funds for other purposes; Congress provides some form of tangible or symbolic assurances to all in order to attempt to protect all interests.