The House on Tuesday turned back an attempt by a tea party-backed GOP conservative to slash taxpayer subsidies for air service to isolated smaller cities and towns that can cost hundreds of dollars a ticket.

The 238-164 vote killed a bid by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., to slash the Essential Air Service program, which subsidizes flights to 120 communities in 35 states in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico and 43 towns in Alaska.

The vote came as the House debated a $107 billion transportation spending bill for the budget year beginning Oct. 1.

Republicans controlling the House had voted to eliminate the oft-criticized program last year while they considered renewing federal aviation programs, but a coalition of Democrats and Republicans representing rural America reversed the move in the Senate.

Despite modest changes to the program enacted earlier this year, its budget now would reach a new high — to $214 million — under Tuesday's legislation.