Government Advocacy
AOPA gets head start on Texas airport issues
Even though the Texas legislature won’t be in session until 2009, AOPA is wasting no time talking to legislators to get a bill passed next year that would allow the state, counties, and cities to create airport authorities to manage airports. AOPA had tried to get the bill passed in 2007.
After attending the Texas Aviation Conference in Austin last week, AOPA Manager of State Legislative Affairs Joey Colleran and AOPA Southwest Regional Representative Shelly Lesikar deZevallos dropped by the office of every member on the state’s House and Senate Transportation committees.
“We made inroads with those on the Transportation committees during the 2007 session and want to maintain those relationships, and when the time comes next year, we will be calling on members to contact their legislators and help get this bill passed,” said deZevallos.
AOPA staff also met Rep. Jim Jackson, who had sponsored a bill last year that would have set unlimited access fees at Addison Airport. AOPA successfully defeated the bill but met with Jackson to update him on the airport’s progress. The town is working out its problems with the airport without pursuing access fees through state legislation.
April 24, 2008
