WASHINGTON - When Gov. George Ryan and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley sought to cement into federal law their deal to expand O'Hare International Airport, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin became their leading advocate.

Much less could be expected from any of the three Senate candidates hoping to win the Republican primary and face the Democratic incumbent in November.

None of Durbin's possible foes -- Chicago attorney John Cox, state Rep. Jim Durkin of Westchester and Aurora businessman James Oberweis -- supports Durbin's bill to enact the O'Hare deal into law, according to their answers to an Associated Press questionnaire.

That doesn't mean they agree with Republican Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, who argues that O'Hare expansion would kill chances for a new third airport south of Chicago. Not all are critical of plans to increase O'Hare's capacity, and they vary in their enthusiasm for building a new airport in Peotone.

State's rights
Durkin, whose position on O'Hare is closest among the GOP candidates to reflecting the Ryan-Daley deal, said his opposition to Durbin's legislation stems from his belief in state's rights.

"I don not support federal legislation to accomplish what I believe is a state issue that can be solved through intergovernmental agreement between the state and local governments," he said.

Under the deal reached by Democrat Daley and Republican Ryan, O'Hare would get a $6.6 billion face lift. Runways would be closed, built or rebuilt, ultimately providing six parallel runways with greater capacity than the seven existing runways at O'Hare.

The money would come from airport revenue bonds, airline passenger fees, airport landing fees and concessions, and possibly from federal grants.

The agreement also would keep open Meigs Field, a small-plane airport on Chicago's downtown lakefront, and encourage development of an airport in rural Peotone, a goal pursued for years by GOP governors.

Durbin's bill is pending before the Senate Commerce's aviation subcommittee, where a hearing is expected early this year.

Oberweis' opinion
Oberweis, while sympathetic to the need to increase O'Hare capacity, said there are major safety problems with the pending plan.

"Parallel runways are too close to permit simultaneous landings under (Federal Aviation Administration) safety guidelines, and planes are forced to cross as many as two active runways to take off and land," he said.

Oberweis believes another airport is needed in the Chicago area, but, unlike the other Republican candidates, is not committed to having it in Peotone.

"It is up to the lawmakers in the state of Illinois to determine where that airport should be located," he said.

Cox's views
Cox's position strongly resembles that of Fitzgerald, a support of the Peotone project who argues its prospects are endangered by plans to expand O'Hare.

"The current political deal to expand O'Hare Airport is a misguided plan that only will mean the delay or death of the Peotone project," Cox said. "But our governor, Democrat senator and other expansion proponents clearly are not looking out for the best interests of the entire state."

Cox argues building Peotone rather than expanding O'Hare would be a less costly and faster way to deal with the air-transporation needs of the region and would help economic development in Chicago's south suburbs.

To Durbin, the economic benefits of the Ryan-Daley deal are too widespread to ignore.

"The agreement . . . would increase O'Hare-generated employment by 195,000 jobs, grow annual economic benefits by an estimated $16 (billion) to $20 billion and save passengers $380 million annually through reduced delays," he said. "Failure to grow O'Hare will deprive Chicago's economy of $8 (billion) to $10 billion annually in economic output by 2015."

Cox said it is obvious that Daley favors O'Hare expansion in order to gain control over the huge number of jobs and tax revenue that will come with it. To ensure that a Peotone airport becomes reality, Cox said Chicago could be given some control over the Peotone airport.

"A Regional Airport Authority would allow the city and state to share power over all the airports of northeastern Illinois," he said. "This ensures that the mayor gets benefits from Peotone and allows for incentive to coordinate the entire region's needs."

At a glance
The position of each of the US Senate candidates in Illinois on the question of whether the airport expansion agreement reached by Gov. George Ryan and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley should be cemented into federal law:

Republicans
John Cox: Against a federal law.
"The current political deal to expand O'Hare Airport is a misguided plan that only will mean the delay or death of the Peotone project."

Jim Durkin: Against a federal law.
"I don not support federal legislation to accomplish what I believe is a state issue that can be solved through intergovernmental agreement between the state and local governments."

James Oberweis: Against a federal law.
"The present plan does not provide the best solution. Parallel runways are too close to permit simultaneous landings under FAA (federal Aviation Administration) safety guidelines."

Democrat
Dick Durbin: Sponsoring the federal legislation.
"Failure to grown O'Hare will deprive Chicago's economy of $8 (billion) to $10 billion annually in economic output by 2015."

Source: Associated Press candidate questionnaire responses

Publication: Joliet Herald News
Date: 02/11/02
Author: The Associated Press

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