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Election '94

Aviation's Political Spectrum

February 5, 1994

AOPA allies from coast to coast.

During the months leading up to the November election, AOPA Legislative Action has profiled prominent congressional candidates up for election who are especially strong allies of general aviation.

With the election just weeks away, however, it is appropriate to make pilots aware of all the candidates who have received the support of the AOPA Political Action Committee. AOPA-PAC is one of the largest and most effective candidate support organizations in the country, and the PAC is a valuable tool in our lobbying efforts on behalf of general aviation.

As you review the list of candidates on the next few pages, you may be surprised to find the names of men and woman representing nearly every point on the political spectrum — conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats. The list contains approximately 130 names, divided nearly evenly between the two political parties. Many are welcome newcomers. Others are well-known leaders who have dedicated productive and distinguished careers to public service.

You may agree or disagree with some of these individuals when it comes to other important issues of the day. But if the subject is general aviation, you'll find that everyone on the list has demonstrated support in one way or another. Some more than others, to be sure. The list tends to change somewhat from election to election, reflecting the inevitable shifts in our network of congressional contacts. But, in total, these are the people who have consistently shown that they understand the important contributions of general aviation.

As you review the list, keep in mind the factors which influence whether AOPA-PAC will support a specific candidate. First, those who are general aviation pilots obviously receive serious consideration because of their demonstrated interest and familiarity with aviation issues.

Second, you'll notice that members of several specific congressional committees tend to be among those who have earned PAC support. These are the so-called "committees of jurisdiction" — the committees which have responsibility for matters affecting general aviation. In the House, these important committees are the full Committee on Public Works and Transportation and its subcommittee on aviation, and also the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and its subcommittee on technology, environment, and aviation. The Public Works Committee has broad responsibility over most aviation issues, while the Science Committee has more limited jurisdiction over the FAA's research programs.

In the Senate, most aviation matters come within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and its subcommittee on aviation. And in both the House and Senate, the appropriations committees play a key role by determining the spending priorities for federal dollars allocated to aviation programs. The FAA's annual budget is crafted by the transportation appropriations subcommittees of both the House and Senate, and several of the members of these two powerful subcommittees are among those with whom we work most closely.

Finally, a host of other factors may influence whether a candidate receives support — such as assistance provided as a member of the congressional leadership or as a member of other important committees, including the Ways and Means Committee or the House Rules Committee (which controls the flow of legislation to the House floor). But all of these candidates have one thing in common: each has demonstrated an understanding of the importance of general aviation.

With these factors in mind, here are the candidates who have earned AOPA-PAC support in 1994. — Thomas B. Chapman, Vice President, Executive Director, AOPA Legislative Action

ALABAMA

  • Representative Sonny Callahan (R) — Energy and Commerce Committee member, helpful with environmental issues.
  • Representative Bud Cramer (D) — Member of both Public Works and Science committees.

ALASKA

  • Representative Don Young (R) — Established AOPA supporter.

ARIZONA

  • Representative Jon Kyl (R) — Established AOPA supporter, running for Senate.

ARKANSAS

  • Representative Tim Hutchinson (R) — Public Works Committee member.

CALIFORNIA

  • Representative Bill Baker (R) — Member of both Public Works and Science committees.
  • Representative George E. Brown (D) — Chairman of Science Committee.
  • Representative Randy Cunningham (R) — AOPA member and pilot, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Bob Filner (D) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative Dan Hamburg (D) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative Steve Horn (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Jay C. Kim (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Howard McKeon (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Norman Y. Mineta (D) — Chairman of Public Works Committee, former chairman of aviation subcommittee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Ron Packard (R) — Appropriations Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.

COLORADO

  • Representative David E. Skaggs (D) — Appropriations Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.

CONNECTICUT

  • No candidates in 1994.

DELAWARE

  • No candidates in 1994.

FLORIDA

  • Representative Corrine Brown (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative John L. Mica (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Douglas Peterson (D) — Pilot, established AOPA supporter.

GEORGIA

  • Representative Mac Collins (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Nathan Deal (D) — Member of both Public Works and Science committees.
  • Representative Newt Gingrich (R) — Former ranking Republican on aviation subcommittee, member of House Republican leadership (minority whip), established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative John Lewis (D) — Ways and Means Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, member of House Democratic leadership (chief deputy whip).

HAWAII

  • No candidates in 1994.

IDAHO

  • No candidates in 1994.

ILLINOIS

  • Representative Jerry F. Costello (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Richard J. Durbin (D) — Pilot, transportation appropriations subcommittee member.
  • Representative Thomas W. Ewing (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative William O. Lipinski (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.

INDIANA

  • Representative Dan Burton (R) — Established AOPA supporter.

IOWA

  • Representative Jim Lightfoot (R) — AOPA member and pilot, Appropriations Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.

KANSAS

  • Representative Dan Glickman (D) — Cochairman of Congressional Aviation Forum, member of technology, environment, and aviation subcommittee, leading proponent of product liability reform, established AOPA supporter.

KENTUCKY

  • Representative Jim Bunning (R) — Ways and Means Committee member.

LOUISIANA

  • Representative Jimmy Hayes (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.

MAINE

  • No candidates in 1994.

MARYLAND

  • Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D) — Established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Benjamin L. Cardin (D) — Ways and Means Committee member.
  • Representative Wayne T. Gilchrest (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Steny H. Hoyer (D) — Appropriations Committee member, member of House Democratic leadership (caucus chairman).
  • Representative Constance Morella (R) — Member of technology, environment, and aviation subcommittee.

MASSACHUSETTS

  • Representative Peter I. Blute (R) — Member of both Public Works and Science committees.
  • Representative Joseph Moakley (D) — Chairman of Rules Committee.
  • Representative John W. Olver (D) — Appropriations Committee member.

MICHIGAN

  • Representative Bob Carr (D) — AOPA member and pilot, chairman of transportation appropriations subcommittee, established AOPA supporter, running for Senate.
  • Representative James A. Barcia (D) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative David E. Bonior (D) — Member of House Democratic leadership (majority whip).
  • Representative John D. Dingell (D) — Chairman of Energy and Commerce Committee, helpful with product liability and environmental issues.
  • Representative Vern Ehlers (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Peter Hoekstra (R) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative Dale E. Kildee (D) — Established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Fred Upton (R) — Former aviation subcommittee member, member of Energy and Commerce Committee.

MINNESOTA

  • Representative James L. Oberstar (D) — Chairman of aviation subcommittee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Collin C. Peterson (D) — AOPA member and pilot, chairman of government operations subcommittee on employment, housing, and aviation, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Martin O. Sabo (D) — Transportation appropriations subcommittee member, chairman of Budget Committee.

MISSISSIPPI

  • Senator Trent Lott (R) — Member of Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Mike Parker (D) — AOPA member and pilot, aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.

MISSOURI

  • Representative Patricia Danner (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Bill Emerson (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Richard A. Gephardt (D) — House majority leader.
  • Representative Mel Hancock (R) — AOPA member and pilot, Ways and Means Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Alan Wheat (D) — Rules Committee member, established AOPA supporter, running for Senate.

MONTANA

  • Senator Conrad Burns (R) — Member of both Appropriations and Commerce, Science, and Transportation committees, established AOPA supporter.

NEBRASKA

  • Senator Robert Kerrey (D) — Appropriations Committee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Bill Barrett (R) — Pilot, established AOPA supporter.

NEVADA

  • Senator Richard Bryan (D) — Aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Barbara F. Vucanovich (R) — Pilot, established AOPA supporter.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • Representative Dick Swett (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Bill Zeliff (R) — Public Works Committee member.

NEW JERSEY

  • Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) — Chairman of transportation appropriations subcommittee, helpful with DUATS funding issue, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Robert Franks (R) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative Robert Menendez (D) — Public Works Committee member.

NEW MEXICO

  • Senator Jeff Bingaman (D) — Established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Joe Skeen (R) — AOPA member and pilot, Appropriations Committee member.

NEW YORK

  • Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D) — Chairman of Finance Committee.
  • Representative Sherwood L. Boehlert (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative David A. Levy (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Susan Molinari (R) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative Jack Quinn (R) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative Gerald B. Solomon (R) — Ranking Republican on Rules Committee.

NORTH CAROLINA

  • Representative Cass Ballenger (R) — Former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative David Price (D) — Transportation appropriations subcommittee member.

NORTH DAKOTA

  • Senator Kent Conrad (D) — Finance Committee member, established AOPA supporter.

OHIO

  • Lt. Governor Mike DeWine (R) — Established AOPA supporter, running for Senate.
  • Representative Ralph Regula (R) — Transportation appropriations subcommittee member.

OKLAHOMA

  • Representative Bill Brewster (D) — Ways and Means Committee member, former Public Works Committee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative James M. Inhofe (R) — AOPA member and pilot, cochairman of Congressional Aviation Forum, aviation subcommittee member, responsible for modifying secretive Petition for Discharge rules, established AOPA supporter, running for Senate.
  • Representative Frank D. Lucas (R) — Established AOPA supporter.

OREGON

  • No candidates in 1994.

PENNSYLVANIA

  • Representative Robert A. Borski (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative William F. Clinger (R) — Ranking Republican on aviation subcommittee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Thomas M. Foglietta (D) — Transportation appropriations subcommittee member.
  • Representative Rick Santorum (R) — Established AOPA supporter, running for Senate.
  • Representative Bud Shuster (R) — Ranking Republican on Public Works Committee, established AOPA supporter.

RHODE ISLAND

  • No candidates in 1994.

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • Representative James E. Clyburn (D) — Public Works Committee member.

SOUTH DAKOTA

  • Representative Tim Johnson (D) — Established AOPA supporter.

TENNESSEE

  • Senator Jim Sasser (D) — Chairman of Budget Committee, Appropriations Committee member.
  • Representative Bob Clement (D) — Aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative John J. Duncan (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Bart Gordon (D) — Rules Committee member.
  • Representative James H. Quillen (R) — Former ranking Republican on Rules Committee, helpful with flight service station issues, established AOPA supporter.

TEXAS

  • Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) — Member of Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Richard K. Armey (R) — Member of House Republican leadership (conference chairman), established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Henry Bonilla (R) — Appropriations Committee member.
  • Representative Jim Chapman (D) — AOPA member and pilot, Appropriations Committee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Ronald D. Coleman (D) — Transportation appropriations subcommittee member.
  • Representative Thomas D. DeLay (R) — Transportation appropriations subcommittee member, member of House Republican leadership (deputy whip and conference secretary), established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Chet Edwards (D) — AOPA member and pilot, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Pete Geren (D) — Aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative Sam Johnson (R) — AOPA member and pilot, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Greg Laughlin (D) — Aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Charles W. Stenholm (D) — Established AOPA supporter.

UTAH

  • Representative James V. Hansen (R) — AOPA member and pilot, leading proponent of product liability reform, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Bill Orton (D) — Pilot, established AOPA supporter.

VERMONT

  • Senator James M. Jeffords (R) — Established AOPA supporter.

VIRGINIA

  • Senator Charles S. Robb (D) — Member of Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Herbert H. Bateman (R) — Established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Thomas J. Bliley (R) — Energy and Commerce Committee member, helpful with environmental issues.
  • Representative Leslie L. Byrne (D) — Public Works Committee member.
  • Representative Bob W. Goodlatte (R) — Established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Lewis F. Payne (D) — Ways and Means Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Frank R. Wolf (R) — Ranking Republican on transportation appropriations subcommittee, established AOPA supporter.

WASHINGTON

  • Senator Slade Gorton (R) — Aviation subcommittee member, Appropriations Committee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Maria Cantwell (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Jennifer Dunn (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Thomas S. Foley (D) — Speaker of the House.

WEST VIRGINIA

  • Senator Robert C. Byrd (D) — Chairman of Appropriations Committee.
  • Representative Nick J. Rahall (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Robert E. Wise (D) — Public Works Committee member.

WISCONSIN

  • Representative David R. Obey (D) — Chairman of Appropriations Committee.
  • Representative Thomas E. Petri (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.

WYOMING

  • Representative Craig Thomas (R) — Pilot, established AOPA supporter, running for Senate.

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