Congressman John Campbell's Blog - Green Eyeshade Blog

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Posted by: John Campbell at 5:22 PM

Today I introduced an amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations bill that would strip taxpayer funding for the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission in Illinois designated for "minority and small business development and procurement opportunities”. Now I find nothing wrong with minority and small business development; I’m a businessman myself. My problem with this earmark is that Abraham Lincoln National Airport doesn’t exist. There are no long lines, crowded terminals, or delayed flights at this airport. There’s not a single passenger there. The truth is, Abraham Lincoln National Airport only exists in concept which has been developed by Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. – who requested the $231,000 for this project.

Here are some facts that you may find interesting:

? The Executive Director for the Airport Commission is Richard Bryant, who also happens to be the Deputy District Administrator for Jackson’s Congressional office.

? Congressman Jackson was the main catalyst behind forming the Airport Commission.

? From a 4/13/06 press release from Congressman Jackson's own campaign, the Airport commission "plans to launch an advertising campaign urging (Illinois) Gov. Rod Blagojevich to lease it the land the state is acquiring for the airfield." From the same press release, "So far, the commission has raised about $100,000, said Jackson aide Rick Bryant, the commission's executive director."

? Later that same year, on November 16, 2006, Congressman Jackson issued a press release from his official office where he promised to not seek federal funding for the airport. “So even with the change of leadership in Congress, I won’t pursue federal funding for the Abraham Lincoln National Airport. Chicago’s share of federal dollars is already committed to O’Hare modernization.”

Congressman Jackson’s request for $231,000 for this non-existent airport, to a commission managed by one of his top congressional staffers that so far has only commissioned an advertising/lobbying campaign, only months after Congressman Jackson himself promised to not request federal funds for this commission, are all reason's why I introduced this amendment to remove these taxpayer provided funds from the Financial Services Appropriations bill. There are some very important questions that Congressman Jackson’s constituents and all taxpayers deserve answered.

Email It | Print It | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

View in ascending order

View in descending order

cameronmoore writes:	Thursday, June, 28, 2007 7:02 PM
if we're gonna build an airport...
Nice job with the phantom airport JC. I'm shocked to find such corruption in Chicagoland politics. If we're gonna be federally funding airport construction, why not build an elevated taxiway connecting El Paso, TX to San Diego? I'm sure Duncan Hunter will co-sponsor. The thing would pay for itself with its hundreds of miles of billboard space.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

dogjudge writes:	Thursday, June, 28, 2007 7:46 PM
Peotone Airport!
I live in the Chicago area and have never heard of this airport referred to as the A.L. airport. This has always been stupid. Jesse Jackson Jr. has only wanted it as a means to funnel money to his friends.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

ArmsnAmmo writes:	Thursday, June, 28, 2007 11:25 PM
GOOD
I wish more of the REPS in DC would do the same thing with all the PORK and the complete and total theft of tax payers money for their own gain. We need more REPS like this man.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

norman writes:	Friday, June, 29, 2007 4:41 AM
This is...
just one of many, many pork projects. Congressman Campbell... while I admire your willingness to go after pork projects, especially fake pork projects, I do have to say that $230,000 is a very small drop in the earmark pond. Good start, but there is much more to get rid of. Another pork project that needs to have a few billion dollars whittled off of it is the Global Warming hysteria project. You want a fake project that will save tons of money, try that one on for size.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

Walt writes:	Friday, March, 20, 2009 1:32 PM
Jackson's phantom airport
Rep. Campbell, Obviously, nothing has changed re the phantom airport. I know, we live 2 miles from the nonexistent runway.
Email It \| Print It \| Flag as Offensive

Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.

Salutation:

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Address 1:

Address 2:

City:

State:

Zip:

About John Campbell

John Campbell is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and has taken a leadership role in addressing the country's top economic issues. Campbell serves as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and House Committee on the Budget. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from UCLA and a Master's Degree in Taxation from USC.