"O'Hare bill gets Peotone amendment"

Wednesday, June 26, 2002

O'Hare bill gets Peotone amendment
By Paul Merrion
Crain's Chicago (IL) Business


WASHINGTON-On a voice vote, the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee unanimously approved legislation to expand O'Hare International
Airport Wednesday after amending the bill to delete language that would have
made construction of a south suburban airport at Peotone a federal priority.

The compromise, offered by chief bill sponsor Rep. William Lipinski,
D-Chicago, "asks the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to give full
consideration to Peotone" as well as airport improvements in Gary and
Rockford. "It is the best deal possible for Peotone."

Originally, the bill directed the FAA to "give priority consideration" to
Peotone, a key part of the agreement reached by Mayor Richard Daley and Gov.
George Ryan, which the legislation was intended to codify so that any future
Illinois governor could not reverse the deal.

However, that provision ran into strong opposition from Democratic Rep.
James Oberstar of Minnesota, the panel's ranking minority member. His
concern was that it would establish a precedent and lead to many other
airports seeking legislation to expedite the FAA approval process.

The amendment makes the House version different from a bill awaiting a floor
vote in the Senate, which means the two versions will have to be reconciled
if they pass the House and Senate.

"We feel strongly the Peotone language needs to be in there," says a
spokesman for Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the bill's chief sponsor in the
Senate.

There is a chance the Senate could take up the O'Hare bill as early as
today, but it's a "long shot," the spokesman added.

The House Transportation Committee also adopted by voice vote an amendment
by Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, calling for increased funding of
research on noise mitigation and quiet aircraft technology.

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