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Wright amendment splits lawmakers
The Dallas Morning News ^ | 2/11/05 | Todd J. Gillman

Posted on 02/11/2005 9:08:48 AM PST by Texas Federalist

WASHINGTON – With the push to overturn flight restrictions at Dallas Love Field heating up, a schism has emerged among North Texas lawmakers.

Three of the region's eight House members – all from the Dallas side – say it's time to loosen or scrap the 25-year-old Wright amendment.

"I think it's outlived its usefulness," Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Plano, said Thursday. "That doesn't mean it's going to get repealed this year."

The willingness of Dallas-area lawmakers to openly side with Southwest Airlines Co. against American Airlines Inc. represents a fresh threat to American and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Both have been scrambling to tamp down calls for a new look at the law, which limited service from Love Field to Texas and surrounding states. Eight years ago, Congress added Alabama, Mississippi and Kansas.

(snip)

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who also met with Mr. Arpey on Wednesday, is also reluctant to tamper with the law. She noted that Delta Air Lines Inc. has shut its hub at D/FW, leaving dozens of gates empty and American with an overwhelming market share.

"My responsibility is to make sure that we keep the commitments made to the two communities [Dallas and Fort Worth] for D/FW Airport to be the major airport and to stay economically healthy," she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: americanairlines; dfwairport; kaybailyhutchinson; lousy; lovefieldairport; moneyhungary; protectionist; republicans; southwestairlines
"My responsibility is to make sure that we keep the commitments made to the two communities [Dallas and Fort Worth] for D/FW Airport to be the major airport and to stay economically healthy," [Kay Bailey Hutchinson] said.

You are a freaking Republican!!!! A government created monopoly does not make us better off!!! American Airlines' prices are already 50% higher than at other hubs. They are bending us over and committing acts to us that were illegal here until Lawrence v. Texas. How about we let them compete for a change.

Kay, just go back to your Planned Parenthood meeting and leave the economics to the adults.

1 posted on 02/11/2005 9:08:48 AM PST by Texas Federalist
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To: Texas Federalist

It's more about Tarrant County making money. Which is too freekin' bad - I like SOUTHWEST airlines, and I want to use Love Field. I live in Dallas, and I want to have the convenience of my own MUNICIPAL airport.

This amendment was created for only one purpose - to drive business to DFW. It helps NO ONE in Dallas. Kill it.


2 posted on 02/11/2005 9:11:47 AM PST by dandelion (http://thequestionfairy.blogspot.com/)
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To: dandelion

I live in FW and still hate this amendment. If DFW is going to be successful, I say let the marketplace do it instead of the government. They know that Southwest will draw business and don't want to lower prices/improve service to keep up.


3 posted on 02/11/2005 9:23:59 AM PST by jtminton ("I shall never surrender or retreat." William Barret Travis Lt. Col. Comdt., Bexar, Feb 24th 1836)
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To: Texas Federalist

Where are the hippies when we need them: We need some free LUV.

Let Southwest (NYSE Ticker: LUV) go.

I want to move about the country out of Dallas Love Field.


4 posted on 02/11/2005 9:25:59 AM PST by Vision Thing
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To: jtminton

Repealing the Wright Amendment will help the people of FW (at least the ones who fly out of DFW) as much as Dallas. American cannot sustain their ridiculous prices at DFW with competition from Southwest.


5 posted on 02/11/2005 9:29:32 AM PST by Texas Federalist
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To: jtminton

Wow. This is a really special moment -

Forget Middle East Peace; Peace in North Texas between FW Dallas! That would be a truly special moment. Anybody who's every known the rivalry between the two cities knows how elusive is true peace.

(Violin music swelling)...

There could actually be peace in our time! Share the LUV!


6 posted on 02/11/2005 9:32:15 AM PST by dandelion (http://thequestionfairy.blogspot.com/)
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To: dandelion

Well, just remember which side of 360 to go home to after the peace celebration.

:)


7 posted on 02/11/2005 9:33:41 AM PST by jtminton ("I shall never surrender or retreat." William Barret Travis Lt. Col. Comdt., Bexar, Feb 24th 1836)
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To: Texas Federalist

The Wright Amendment was as useless from the moment it passed as Jim Wright was as Speaker of the House.

I have long supported killing this dreck legislation and hope that Johnson and some of the others have the gumption to get it done.


8 posted on 02/11/2005 10:01:05 AM PST by DustyMoment (Repeal CFR NOW!!)
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To: Texas Federalist
You're right there ! I priced a ticket to Honolulu recently both from DFW and from Houston IAH. The flight from DFW was nearly double the cost of that from Houston, even tho' the Houston routing connected with the same flight out of DFW ! This happens a lot. I don't see why we can't have long haul out of both airports, seems to work OK in Houston.
9 posted on 02/11/2005 12:34:04 PM PST by 1066AD
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To: Texas Federalist

So, I'm not the only who thinks that Kay B Hutchison is either a blithering idiot, a closet RINO, or both?


10 posted on 02/15/2005 6:38:34 AM PST by Redbob
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