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05-26-2005, 09:05 AM
N. Texas congressmen: Restrictions hurt fliers; D/FW says move risky
By ROBERT DODGE / The Dallas Morning News
WASHINGTON – Two North Texas congressmen plan to introduce legislation in the House today that will fully repeal Wright amendment flight restrictions at Dallas Love Field.
Republican Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas and Sam Johnson of Plano have scheduled a news conference in Washington this morning to announce their bill, which was already drawing criticism Wednesday from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and American Airlines.
Tracking the Wright amendment
"The Right to Fly Act would immediately repeal the 26-year-old ban on flights between Love Field and most destinations outside Texas," the congressmen said in their announcement. "If passed, consumers would see lower fares as a result of increased competition between air carriers."
Although the proposal would simply lift the Wright amendment restrictions enacted in 1979 to protect D/FW Airport, Mr. Johnson indicated a willingness to add provisions if it would help build support among House colleagues.
The proposed legislation is the latest development in a building movement ignited last fall by Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which wants the law repealed so it can fly between its home airport and destinations around the country.
And it comes with the surprising sponsorship of two Dallas-area lawmakers who otherwise would see American and D/FW as important constituents. American and D/FW have vigorously opposed allowing long-haul flights from Love Field.
Underscoring the regional loyalties at play, the four House members who represent Tarrant County – Republicans Kay Granger of Fort Worth, Joe Barton of Ennis, Kenny Marchant of Coppell and Michael Burgess of Flower Mound – scheduled their own news conference for this afternoon to show their support for keeping the Wright amendment.
Mr. Johnson said he and his Dallas colleague have been talking about introducing the bill for a couple of years, and that Mr. Hensarling asked him to jointly sponsor the proposal.
A recent string of newspaper editorials and a report last week by the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce urging repeal of the Wright amendment "nudged us over the edge," Mr. Johnson said.
"It is not about one airline or one city. It is about helping our constituents," he said. "For a long time, I have thought the restrictions on Love Field have outlived their usefulness, and I think people ought to have the freedom to fly wherever they want and whenever they want."
"I will keep flying American," Mr. Johnson said. "They are the way to go when it comes to getting to Washington. But that does not mean they should restrict another operation."
Mr. Hensarling declined to be interviewed but in a prepared statement said: "I believe it is right to repeal the Wright amendment. I believe it is wrong for Congress to be in the business of protecting one airport from another. Competition has always proven to be the consumer's best friend."
D/FW said the proposed legislation could hurt the region's economy.
"Obviously, we're very disappointed that two congressmen are going to put at risk the economic engine of North Texas and the jobs of more than 250,000 men and women that are tied to this airport, to benefit one company," said Jeff Fegan, D/FW's chief executive.
"Southwest Airlines could have the best of both worlds and fly out of Love Field and D/FW today without an act of Congress," he added.
Tim Wagner, a spokesman for Fort Worth-based American, said: "We continue to believe that North Texas communities made the correct decision to establish D/FW as the aviation gateway for the region. The wisdom of that decision has been borne out over the past 32 years by the unprecedented growth of the entire region."
But the news was enthusiastically received at Southwest.
"We applaud the tremendous leadership and vision of these two congressmen who have tapped into the true will of the people," said Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart. "We are elated."
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Hensarling will face an uphill battle to get their proposal scheduled for action in the House Transportation Committee and in the full House.
Southwest has engaged in a vigorous campaign to educate lawmakers about its desire to repeal the amendment.
But its efforts have been matched by similar lobbying by American and D/FW.
Moreover, Republican leaders and other House members see the Wright amendment as a local fight and will be reluctant to wade into a spat that has split the Texas congressional delegation.
"It will take a little bit of leverage to get it out of the Transportation Committee," Mr. Johnson said.
Southwest chairman Herb Kelleher has suggested a bill might get some political lift if it also included a repeal of the perimeter limiting flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.
"I have thought about that," said Mr. Johnson, noting such a provision might also draw the influential support of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who wants to lift the restrictions at Reagan National.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., has indicated he is working on a bill to repeal the Love Field restrictions.
Spokesman Jack Finn said the senator, who wants to boost air traffic to Las Vegas and Reno, has not worked with Mr. Hensarling or Mr. Johnson.
But he said with the controversy over judicial nominations out of the way, the senator could refocus on issues such as the Wright amendment.
"We will now re-engage in other things, and this quite possibly could be one of them," Mr. Finn said.
Staff writers Eric Torbenson, Suzanne Marta and Dave Levinthal in Dallas and Todd J. Gillman in Washington contributed to this report.
WHAT IS THE WRIGHT AMENDMENT?
A compromise reached in 1979 in Congress that limits commercial planes with 56 or more seats flying to and from Dallas Love Field to routes within Texas and adjoining states. It was designed to allow Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to flourish.
In 1997, the Shelby amendment allowed flights between Love Field and airports in Mississippi, Alabama and Kansas.
Southwest announced in November that it was working to repeal the flight restrictions.
SPEAKING OF THE AMENDMENT
What they're saying about a planned bill to lift the Wright amendment
"Sen. Hutchison will only support changes to the Wright amendment once a comprehensive impact study proves that regional airport and communities won't suffer economically."
The office of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas
"Both sides in this dispute have made a strong case for their position; both have merit. Any resolution to this issue must benefit the people of Texas without unduly disrupting the numerous commitments made as a result of the existing law."
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas
"This is a complex and long-historied issue. Many of us have dealt with this a long time. [Rep. Jeb] Hensarling hasn't. The metroplex delegation also has a history of working together and communicating even when we differ on an issue. I'm disappointed that Mr. Hensarling would choose to act as he has."
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth
"We're all aware of Southwest's highly publicized efforts to recruit congressional sponsors. I'm not sure how this is going to play out, but this isn't going to be the end of it. The neighborhoods impacted by this have a huge stake in this whole discussion."
Pat White, co-chair, the Love Field Citizens Action Committee, which represents the neighborhood groups around Dallas Love Field
"If everybody was smart, they'd try to sit down together and figure it out. American Airlines and D/FW better see what's happening in Washington and react."
Dallas Mayor Laura Miller
The filing of federal legislation does change the Wright amendment debate in that local congressmen have formally entered the fight on the side of repealing it, she said.
As a result, "it's incumbent upon the rest of us to come up with a solution."
By ROBERT DODGE / The Dallas Morning News
WASHINGTON – Two North Texas congressmen plan to introduce legislation in the House today that will fully repeal Wright amendment flight restrictions at Dallas Love Field.
Republican Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas and Sam Johnson of Plano have scheduled a news conference in Washington this morning to announce their bill, which was already drawing criticism Wednesday from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and American Airlines.
Tracking the Wright amendment
"The Right to Fly Act would immediately repeal the 26-year-old ban on flights between Love Field and most destinations outside Texas," the congressmen said in their announcement. "If passed, consumers would see lower fares as a result of increased competition between air carriers."
Although the proposal would simply lift the Wright amendment restrictions enacted in 1979 to protect D/FW Airport, Mr. Johnson indicated a willingness to add provisions if it would help build support among House colleagues.
The proposed legislation is the latest development in a building movement ignited last fall by Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which wants the law repealed so it can fly between its home airport and destinations around the country.
And it comes with the surprising sponsorship of two Dallas-area lawmakers who otherwise would see American and D/FW as important constituents. American and D/FW have vigorously opposed allowing long-haul flights from Love Field.
Underscoring the regional loyalties at play, the four House members who represent Tarrant County – Republicans Kay Granger of Fort Worth, Joe Barton of Ennis, Kenny Marchant of Coppell and Michael Burgess of Flower Mound – scheduled their own news conference for this afternoon to show their support for keeping the Wright amendment.
Mr. Johnson said he and his Dallas colleague have been talking about introducing the bill for a couple of years, and that Mr. Hensarling asked him to jointly sponsor the proposal.
A recent string of newspaper editorials and a report last week by the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce urging repeal of the Wright amendment "nudged us over the edge," Mr. Johnson said.
"It is not about one airline or one city. It is about helping our constituents," he said. "For a long time, I have thought the restrictions on Love Field have outlived their usefulness, and I think people ought to have the freedom to fly wherever they want and whenever they want."
"I will keep flying American," Mr. Johnson said. "They are the way to go when it comes to getting to Washington. But that does not mean they should restrict another operation."
Mr. Hensarling declined to be interviewed but in a prepared statement said: "I believe it is right to repeal the Wright amendment. I believe it is wrong for Congress to be in the business of protecting one airport from another. Competition has always proven to be the consumer's best friend."
D/FW said the proposed legislation could hurt the region's economy.
"Obviously, we're very disappointed that two congressmen are going to put at risk the economic engine of North Texas and the jobs of more than 250,000 men and women that are tied to this airport, to benefit one company," said Jeff Fegan, D/FW's chief executive.
"Southwest Airlines could have the best of both worlds and fly out of Love Field and D/FW today without an act of Congress," he added.
Tim Wagner, a spokesman for Fort Worth-based American, said: "We continue to believe that North Texas communities made the correct decision to establish D/FW as the aviation gateway for the region. The wisdom of that decision has been borne out over the past 32 years by the unprecedented growth of the entire region."
But the news was enthusiastically received at Southwest.
"We applaud the tremendous leadership and vision of these two congressmen who have tapped into the true will of the people," said Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart. "We are elated."
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Hensarling will face an uphill battle to get their proposal scheduled for action in the House Transportation Committee and in the full House.
Southwest has engaged in a vigorous campaign to educate lawmakers about its desire to repeal the amendment.
But its efforts have been matched by similar lobbying by American and D/FW.
Moreover, Republican leaders and other House members see the Wright amendment as a local fight and will be reluctant to wade into a spat that has split the Texas congressional delegation.
"It will take a little bit of leverage to get it out of the Transportation Committee," Mr. Johnson said.
Southwest chairman Herb Kelleher has suggested a bill might get some political lift if it also included a repeal of the perimeter limiting flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.
"I have thought about that," said Mr. Johnson, noting such a provision might also draw the influential support of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who wants to lift the restrictions at Reagan National.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., has indicated he is working on a bill to repeal the Love Field restrictions.
Spokesman Jack Finn said the senator, who wants to boost air traffic to Las Vegas and Reno, has not worked with Mr. Hensarling or Mr. Johnson.
But he said with the controversy over judicial nominations out of the way, the senator could refocus on issues such as the Wright amendment.
"We will now re-engage in other things, and this quite possibly could be one of them," Mr. Finn said.
Staff writers Eric Torbenson, Suzanne Marta and Dave Levinthal in Dallas and Todd J. Gillman in Washington contributed to this report.
WHAT IS THE WRIGHT AMENDMENT?
A compromise reached in 1979 in Congress that limits commercial planes with 56 or more seats flying to and from Dallas Love Field to routes within Texas and adjoining states. It was designed to allow Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to flourish.
In 1997, the Shelby amendment allowed flights between Love Field and airports in Mississippi, Alabama and Kansas.
Southwest announced in November that it was working to repeal the flight restrictions.
SPEAKING OF THE AMENDMENT
What they're saying about a planned bill to lift the Wright amendment
"Sen. Hutchison will only support changes to the Wright amendment once a comprehensive impact study proves that regional airport and communities won't suffer economically."
The office of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas
"Both sides in this dispute have made a strong case for their position; both have merit. Any resolution to this issue must benefit the people of Texas without unduly disrupting the numerous commitments made as a result of the existing law."
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas
"This is a complex and long-historied issue. Many of us have dealt with this a long time. [Rep. Jeb] Hensarling hasn't. The metroplex delegation also has a history of working together and communicating even when we differ on an issue. I'm disappointed that Mr. Hensarling would choose to act as he has."
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth
"We're all aware of Southwest's highly publicized efforts to recruit congressional sponsors. I'm not sure how this is going to play out, but this isn't going to be the end of it. The neighborhoods impacted by this have a huge stake in this whole discussion."
Pat White, co-chair, the Love Field Citizens Action Committee, which represents the neighborhood groups around Dallas Love Field
"If everybody was smart, they'd try to sit down together and figure it out. American Airlines and D/FW better see what's happening in Washington and react."
Dallas Mayor Laura Miller
The filing of federal legislation does change the Wright amendment debate in that local congressmen have formally entered the fight on the side of repealing it, she said.
As a result, "it's incumbent upon the rest of us to come up with a solution."