Stimulus Sparks Debate Over O'Hare Expansion

Rep. Jackson voices opposition to using tax payer money for OMP

CHICAGO, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) today spoke out against his colleague Rep. Mark Kirk's (R-IL) comments in the Chicago Tribune suggesting that Illinois' share of the Stimulus Package be used to expand O'Hare. Rep. Kirk voted against the Stimulus Package that would bring $22 billion to Illinois and instead suggested that the government fully fund the $20 billion O'Hare Modernization Program.

"At a time when citizens all throughout our state are in desperate need of an economic life raft Congressman Kirk's plan leaves our citizens stranded at O'Hare," said Rep. Jackson.

"The Stimulus Package approved by Congress would bring $22 billion to Illinois to modernize schools, repair roads, improve hospitals and put people to work. Congressman Kirk prefers giving that money to the O'Hare Modernization Program -- thus depriving children, seniors and needy people of vital services."

Rep. Jackson went on to say, "There is a better alternative for adding 100,000 flights per year to Illinois. O'Hare expansion will cost $20 billion. The proposed Abraham Lincoln National Airport would add the same number flights for a fraction of the cost -- about $500 million. And that money comes from private investors -- not taxpayers."

Work on the next phase of the O'Hare expansion has not begun and funding for the $20 billion Program has not been secured. FAA studies show that the expansion will not provide any significant improvement of airline delays or alleviate congestion at O'Hare. Aviation experts say that OMP will instead produce massive delays and increase costs for both consumers and airlines during and after initial construction. In addition, the airlines, including United Airlines and American Airlines, have called the OMP plan "ill-conceived" and "premature."

www.stop-omp.org is dedicated to stopping the senseless, ill advised and flawed O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and preventing further unnecessary displacement of families and waste of taxpayer dollars. Community leaders, concerned citizens, aviation industry leaders and economic experts continue to urge the FAA to adopt viable alternatives. These include runway configurations proposed by the Chicago air traffic controllers, use of congestion management techniques, reliance on other nearby airports, and construction of a third airport.