"Alabama airport top spender on DC lobbyists"

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Airport top spender on lobbyists
By BRIAN LAWSON
The Huntsville (AL) Times


State review ranks authorities; city also pays for help 

The Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority spent at least $180,000 on
lobbying Washington in 2005, the highest total among Alabama's local
governments and municipal authorities, a review found. 

Last year also marked the groundbreaking for a new 219-foot control tower at
the airport, a $20.7 million project entirely paid for by federal dollars. 
 
In 2004, the Huntsville International Airport completed its runway extension
from 8,000 to 12,600 feet, which allows it to accommodate major airline and
cargo traffic. The project was also built using federal dollars. 

Huntsville has long had strong ties to Washington, but a review of lobbying
records performed by the Associated Press found that other Alabama
communities are boosting their lobbying spending to attract more federal
dollars. 

The AP found, from 2000 to 2005, such spending nearly quadrupled from at
least $739,000 to at least $2.9 million. 

The local airport authority was the top spender in 2005, according to
disclosure records, paying R.G. Flippo and Associates $180,000 in 2005.
That's up about $20,000 from 2004, according to records. Former U.S. Rep.
Ronnie Flippo opened the firm after he decided not to run for re-election
for the seat now held by his successor, U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville. 

The city of Huntsville paid about $100,000 to lobbyists last year, according
to the AP review, but city officials said the number was probably a little
higher, about $120,000. 

Barbie Peek, marketing director for the Huntsville-Madison County Airport
Authority, said the lobbying work done by Flippo and his office on behalf of
the authority covers a range of issues, including advocacy, economic
development assistance, consulting and strategic planning. 

Flippo also worked on the control tower and runway extension projects. 

"A lot people think lobbying is just about applying for grants," Peek said.
"That's involved, but it is also when we have a project that needs some
strategic planning, Ronnie's there to help us with how the system works,
which agencies should really be involved, who we should approach, whether it
should be on the director level, or staff. 

"Also, he helps determine if it will be through the FAA or the Federal
Highway Commission. That's all part of what you're doing, trying to be most
effective." 

The city of Huntsville employs three lobbying firms, city officials said,
including Flippo, and firms led by Barbara McCall and Steve Raby. The city
has employed Flippo and McCall for close to 10 years and Raby, who also
lobbies in Montgomery, for at least six years, officials said. 

The lobbyists handle different areas of interest to the city, with McCall
focusing on law enforcement, Homeland Security dollars, transportation and
community development. In 2005, for example, the Huntsville Police
Department received an $800,000 grant for technology improvements.

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