Obama Admin Blasts EU Law Charging Domestic Airlines Extra Fees

Medioimages/Photodisc/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The White House is not happy about a new policy by the European Union that would charge U.S. airline carriers every time planes land or leave the continent.

The law by the E.U. is intended to reduce green-house gas emissions.  While the Obama administration supports decreasing pollution on a global scale, the White House says the plan goes too far.

Testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood argued the case of domestic carriers, which say the fees could amount to $3 billion annually by the year 2020.

Without mincing words, LaHood told lawmakers, “We think this is a lousy policy.  A lousy law that they passed.”

LaHood said the administration would be proactive in getting the E.U. to change its mind about the policy because it ought to take into account how the law might adversely affect other countries.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio