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Posted on 01/13/2003 4:50:15 AM PST by Theodore R.
January 10, 2003 Lott Makes A 'Soft Landing' By Grabbing Aviation Chairmanship
No major airlines are headquartered in Mississippi, while Texas is home to the world's largest carrier, American Airlines. And Jackson International Airport in Jackson, Miss., might as well have tumbleweeds blowing through it compared with raucous Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Yet, it will be former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., who will head the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, displacing the former chairwoman, Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. Lott, fourth in GOP seniority on the Commerce panel, pulled rank on Hutchison, who is fifth in seniority. With its oversight of the airline industry, the Aviation Subcommittee slot is considered a more attractive chairmanship than the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, which Hutchison will lead. Hutchison may have thought she would reclaim the aviation post, which she held in 2001, because the Surface Transportation panel has oversight of shipbuilding, a matter of concern from coastal states, such as Mississippi. Lott, however, has a longstanding interest in aviation issues, observers say, and he will place a greater emphasis on smaller carriers and service to rural communities. Hutchison was known for her advocacy for large airlines and airports in her state. "Sometimes people come in with a steep learning curve. Sen. Lott comes in with zero learning curve," said Todd Hauptli, chief lobbyist for the American Association of Airport Executives. He added that Lott was a key player in negotiating the 2000 aviation law AIR-21 (PL 106-181), up for reauthorization this year. Lott's office did not return several calls for comment. Hutchison was realistic about the situation. "He had seniority and got to choose before me," she said. But Hutchison was upbeat about her new role. "I love the committee, and my background on [the National Transportation Safety Board] was a nice fit. But I also have a great interest in surface transportation, having passed the reorganization of the Texas highway department in the Texas Legislature and passed Texas' first mass transit bill." Not all were so upbeat. "We are certainly saddened that Sen. Hutchison will no longer lead the [sub]committee because she is aviation advocate and expert, and certainly understands the critical issues facing the industry today," said Ken Capps, spokesman for Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. While not as thick with airports as Texas, Mississippi still has major airlines flying into the state. Delta Air Lines, US Airways and Southwest Airlines fly into Jackson, while Delta also flies into Meridian. Northwest Airlines flies to Tupelo and Columbus. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, located near the popular casinos lining Mississippi's Gulf Coast, is served by Delta, Northwest, and Continental Airlines, as well as lower-cost carriers Air Tran Airways and Southeast Airlines. During a Commerce Committee hearing Thursday on the future of the battered airline industry, Lott said he would look for ways to assist the industry through relieving it of additional security costs imposed after Sept. 11. He also expressed an interest in revisiting federal law requiring arbitration in airline disputes, a view he shares with Hutchison and committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz. Aviation interests have been generous to Lott in the past. Airlines, cargo carriers, and aircraft and equipment manufacturers contributed $74,025 to Lott from 1995 leading up to his 2000 electoral victory. FedEx Corp., the giant air cargo delivery service, led the way at $10,000. CEO Frederick W. Smith is a Mississippi native and is featured on Lott's "Mississippi Wall of Fame" on his Web site. -- Peter Cohn, CQ Staff Writer
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