Byron Dorgan

I am determined, one at a time, to find out what is going on first with this Service District because I think it has not worked at all.

I think it's really helpful to have had this hearing to keep pressure and pushing and try to understand how do we make this user friendly.

Trying to move things through OMB is a little like walking through wet cement.

You say the trend is positive. So if we're not galloping along at least do you think, most of you think, we're at least trotting along to make some progress here?

We've been enormously frustrated... the money doesn't seem to get where it's needed.

I'm sorry. I know you make the best case you can, as does my colleague, but it simply doesn't add up.

I think it is the case that if you were betting, you'd probably bet that this FAA reauthorization bill will continue to be blocked.

If this were a case where, look, we're having a debate and you're equal to the task--I listened to Senator Rockefeller and you, you know what, it's a standoff.

I am a solid proponent of the FAA reauthorization bill--a solid proponent of it, and a solid proponent of NextGen.

You are stopping this bill from passing, and you can't feel very good about that.

I'm pleased to hear that, and you wouldn't even exist, I might say, if it hadn't been for me.

So, is it OK if Congress changes the rules? Do we have your OK?

Your position at this table is to limit people's choices, isn't that the case?

I'm asking when--that proposal was made and press statements were made about up gauging the airplanes, increasing the size of the airplanes with the slot conversions, very substantial conversions, whether Metropolitan Washington Airports…

Let me make a point, that in 2007 when GAO said there was additional capacity at National, there was 1.1 million more passengers flying out of National.

I don't know if it'll be 2013 or 2014 when we come out of it. I don't know, but we're going to come out of it.

I know that completely. And the term that you're using was never used in any context externally to the Airports Authority.

You are suggesting people's choices be limited, and you just told me that we have a system here in which people have choice, that's not your position.

There is nothing that has been discussed today that will ever benefit Bismarck, North Dakota.

I'm telling you, it doesn't add up, it doesn't add up a bit to me.

So whatever operations you're managing, you're not going to have one hour wait times, I assume, at National.

Did Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority weigh in on those issues, saying that, 'Gosh, if that happens, we may have a million more people coming through, we may have hour wait times at the portals for security, we may not have garage…

We must push to resolve the matter of National Airport slots or it will threaten future FAA reauthorizations.

I'm proud to say that the FAA bill actually passed out of this committee and then through the Congress, 93 to nothing, not a single dissenting vote.

I don't mean--well, I guess I do mean to diminish the information that has been given to us, because it is not--it is not right, it doesn't nearly meet the laugh test, in my judgment.