This is so full of bull. The GAO did a survey in 2012 and it showed here are approximately 140,000 rated ATP's, and 105,000 commercial instrument rated pilots that could take the ATP Test. The FAA gave out approximately 6400 ATP certificates in 2012 and that number is trending up.
Including military pilots who are retiring that's about 250,000 pilots that are competing for 72,000 airline jobs.
There is not a pilot shortage. There is a surplus of pilots that don't want to be paid pennies to work at the regionals. BB at Republic blamed the 1500 hour rule when he should be looking to pay his pilots more. Regional first year F/O pay is trending up but is nowhere near where it should be right now.