Scott Fitzgerald: “I do oppose Senator Durbin's bill with respect to O'Hare. Mr. Durbin said it is necessary to pass this bill in order to…”

“I do oppose Senator Durbin's bill with respect to O'Hare. Mr. Durbin said it is necessary to pass this bill in order to expand O'Hare Airport. But I would point out that never in the history of our country, that I am aware of, has any airport in this country had a special bill mandating that the FAA approve its particular expansion plans. The fact is, if Mayor Daley of Chicago wants to expand O'Hare Airport, he can simply file an application with the FAA to expand O'Hare Airport. The trouble is, if that were the case--if Mayor Daley were simply to file an application similar to all the other airports in the country--his application would have to be judged on the mere merits. So Senator Durbin and Mayor Daley came up with the idea of drafting a statute. They put that into bill form and are now asking Congress to pass it. The purpose of that bill is twofold: No. 1, the bill would straightjacket the FAA so that they would have no choice but to approve Mayor Daley's specific runway design at O'Hare Airport.”