Sen. Inhofe: "I'm A Little Bit Ashamed Of Chicago"

The US Senate held a transportation funding hearing in Chicago today during which the committee chairman criticized Mayor Daley for the demolition of Meigs Field.

Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) did not candycoat his criticism of Mayor Daley and the dark of night demolition of Meigs: "I'm a little bit ashamed of Chicago right now."

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, almost boycotted the senate hearing aimed at setting funding priorities for federal transportation dollars. Inhofe - a private pilot himself - called the mayor's Meigs decision an act of "reckless arrogance."

"You know if you willfully go out and destroy infrastructure the way that the mayor did, it's a little inconsistent to come back and have a hearing to see what kind of infrastructure needs we have in Illinois.” When asked if the Meigs controversy would affect Chicago's chances of getting federal transportation funds, Inhofe said "I hope not." 

On The Other Side Of The Coin...

Chicago Congressman William Lipinski, a key transportation expert on Capitol Hill, says he doesn't believe disagreements over the closing of Meigs Field will jeopardize local transportation funding.

Lipinski says he thinks the controversy over Meigs Field will be “a tempest in a teapot.” He says the shuttered lakefront airport is not a major cog in the area's aviation machinery.

And, the Congressman says he's not concerned that Oklahoma Senator James InHofe, in Chicago for that field hearing, will thwart Chicago's requests for federally funded transportation projects.

First of all, he says, Sen. Inhofe sits on a committee that deals with highways, which is more of an issue for the State of Illinois. He says he would be more concerned if the Oklahoma Republican sat on a mass transit committee, since more of those funds would be earmarked for Chicago.

Hopefully, Lipinski says, Inhofe will see that Meigs is closed and there is nothing he can do about it. And perhaps he will be generous. Lipinski told a City Club luncheon Illinois wants seven billion dollars in transportation funds from Washington, though current legislation would provide far less than that.

If You're Gonna Tear Up A Runway, Better Check With The FAA First

As otherwise reported, AOPA has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Chicago and the Chicago Park District over the demolition of Meigs Field.

According to the suit, Chicago violated federal regulations by failing to provide the Federal Aviation Commission with advance notice before damaging a runway. The suit claims that lack of notice created "hazards and inconveniences" for aircraft. The lawsuit says the action also interfered with the FAA's statutory obligation to evaluate the effects of the action on "existing or contemplated traffic patterns of neighboring airports" and the effects on the "safe and efficient use of airspace by aircraft and the safety of persons and property on the ground."

A spokesman for AOPA told said the goal of the lawsuit is to eventually force the city to fix the runway and reopen Meigs Field.

FMI: http://inhofe.senate.gov