The airline bailout and the Victim Compensation Fund's terms effectively make the airlines unaccountable.

Congress passed a use-of-force resolution, an airline bailout, a vast increase in federal criminal powers against terrorism and money-laundering, and after weeks of squabbling, a bill enhancing airport security.

When the airline bailout was rushed through Congress last month, there were fears that much of the airline industry would fail in ways that the bankruptcy system could not handle.

Measures on presidential war powers, airline bailouts, aid for New York and even overall spending have been hammered out by Republicans and Democrats together.

The $10 billion loan guarantee program was set up by Congress after Sept. 11 as part of a $15 billion airline bailout package.

First, under cover of terrorism, the government has approved a $15 billion airline bailout.

This is certainly not what occurred in the airline bailout.

Meanwhile, tax bills favoring big business, airline bailouts and energy legislation that emphasizes drilling in the Arctic wilderness are all front and center on Capitol Hill.

The $15 billion airline bailout approved overwhelmingly by Congress has lobbyists for other industries lining up now to make the case that their clients, too, need federal aid.

Congress is debating an airline bailout, some parts of which are reasonable.