Political Quotes

“I must rise in reluctant but very strong opposition to this amendment, because we believe it is simply a circuitous way to kill this bill. It is very clear that when we passed the legislation creating the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, it was careful to transfer only operating, I repeat operating, responsibility to the new authority, not ownership. The Federal Government owns the airport and, therefore, the Federal Government can rename the airport. A change in the name does not affect the airport authority's operational abilities. They can still safely and efficiently operate the airport whether it is called the Washington National Airport or the Ronald Reagan National Airport. If it is a concern about financing, the rather insignificant costs of changing signs at the airport, the Ronald Reagan Legacy Foundation has volunteered to help finance those changes. But, in reality, this is really a roundabout way to kill the name change. Proponents are well aware that the Washington Post reported that the airport board, which has a majority of Democratic appointments on it, would vote 6-to-4, a partisan vote, to kill the name change. So that is what this amendment really is all about. It is unnecessary and it would, in effect, kill the bill. The naming of federally owned facilities is uniquely a Federal prerogative.”