Jun 21, 2011

Representative Schilling Voted to Terminate Rural Airport Funds He Claims Are “Pretty Essential”

After Representative Bobby Schilling (IL-17) voted to end the Essential Air Service program, the fate of rural airports remains in limbo. This week, however, Representative Schilling is hiding his vote to end the program, which provides nearly $2 million contract to Cape Air for his district’s Quincy airport.  According to the Herald-Whig, Representative Schilling now claims that the Essential Airport funding is “pretty essential.” The Herald-Whig also reported that the Quincy airport would have to drastically alter its services should the program be eliminated.

FACT CHECK

In Washington:

Representative Schilling voted to for the four year reauthorization of FAA funding. Schilling voted for the four-year reauthorization to reduce the Federal Aviation Administration’s funding to FY 2008 levels. [HR 658, Vote #220 , 4/01/11]

FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act terminates the Essential Air Service program. According to USA Today, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 “will terminate the EAS program on Oct. 1st, 2013, in all states except Alaska and Hawaii.” [USA Today, 3/30/11]

In Illinois: 

Representative Schilling told the Herald-Whig that he believes EAS funding to be “pretty essential.” "For Quincy, it's pretty essential that we have that there," U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona, said. "There are some out there that aren't truly essential. It's all about wants and needs and prioritizing." [Quincy Herald Whig, 6/20/11]

Quincy’s nearly two million dollar program at Cape Air would be eliminated in the House Republican’s plan Schilling supports. According to the Quincy Herald Whig, Cape Air operates 36 flights per week between Quincy and St. Louis, receiving an EAS subsidy of $1.9 million per year, which would be eliminated under the House Republican’s reauthorization bill. [Quincy Herald Whig, 6/20/11]

For more information: http://www.whig.com/story/news/Essential-Air-Service-062011

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