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Election '96

Aviation's Political Spectrum

October 5, 1996

AOPA allies from coast to coast

Many considerations influence a voter's choice of an elected official. When pilots go to the polls in November, they will obviously make up their own minds. 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 approximately 118 candidates on the next few pages, you may be surprised to find the names of men and women representing nearly every point on the political spectrum — conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats. Many are welcome newcomers emerging in one of the greatest periods of political change in recent history. 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. And 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 that 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 having responsibility for matters affecting general aviation. In the House, these important committees are the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its subcommittee on aviation, and also the Committee on Science and its subcommittee on technology. The Transportation and Infrastructure 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 appropriations transportation 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 committees 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 1996.

If a state is not listed, AOPA-PAC is not endorsing any candidates this year in that state.

Alabama

  • Representative Spencer Bachus (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Sonny Callahan (R) — Appropriations transportation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Bud Cramer (D) — Aviation subcommittee member and member of Science Committee.

Alaska

  • Senator Ted Stevens (R) — Aviation subcommittee member, Appropriations Committee member, 1996 AOPA Hartranft Award winner for work to oppose user fees, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Don Young (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member, established AOPA supporter.

Arkansas

  • Representative Tim Hutchinson (R) — Aviation subcommittee member, running for U.S. Senate.

Arizona

  • Representative John Shadegg (R) — Established AOPA supporter.

California

  • Representative Bill Baker (R) — Member of both Transportation and Infrastructure and Science committees.
  • Representative Randy Cunningham (R)AOPA member and pilot, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Bob Filner (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Wally Herger (R) — Ways and Means Committee member.
  • Representative Jay Kim (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Ron Packard (R) — Appropriations transportation subcommittee member, former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Andrea Seastrand (R) — Member of both aviation and technology subcommittees.

Colorado

  • Representative Wayne Allard (R) — Established AOPA supporter, running for U.S. Senate.
  • Representative David Skaggs (D) — Appropriations Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.

Florida

  • Representative Corrine Brown (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Tillie Fowler (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative John Mica (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.

Georgia

  • Representative Mac Collins (R) — Ways and Means Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Newt Gingrich (R) — Speaker of the House, former ranking Republican on aviation subcommittee, 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

  • Orson Swindle (R) — Pilot running for U.S. House of Representatives.

Idaho

  • Senator Larry Craig (R) — Established AOPA supporter.

Illinois

  • Representative Richard Durbin (D) — Appropriations transportation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter, running for U.S. Senate.
  • Representative Jerry Costello (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Thomas Ewing (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Ray LaHood (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative William Lipinski (D) — Ranking Democrat on aviation subcommittee.
  • Representative Jerry Weller (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.

Indiana

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

Iowa

  • Representative Jim Lightfoot (R) — AOPA member and pilot, appropriations transportation subcommittee member, former aviation subcommittee member, 1995 AOPA Hartranft Award winner for work to ensure meaningful FAA reform, established AOPA supporter, running for U.S. Senate.
  • Leonard Boswell (D) — AOPA member and pilot, current president of Iowa State Senate, running for U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Representative Greg Ganske (R) — Established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Tom Latham (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.

Kansas

  • Representative Todd Tiarht (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.

Kentucky

  • Representative Jim Bunning (R) — Ways and Means Committee member.
  • Representative Harold Rogers (R) — Appropriations transportation subcommittee member.

Louisiana

  • Representative Richard Baker (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Jimmy Hayes (R) — Ways and Means Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, running for U.S. Senate.
  • Representative Bob Livingston (R) — Chairman of Appropriations Committee.

Maryland

  • Representative Roscoe Bartlett (R) — Established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Benjamin Cardin (D) — Ways and Means Committee member.
  • Representative Steny Hoyer (D) — Appropriations Committee member.
  • Representative Connie Morella (R) — Chairman of technology subcommittee.

Massachusetts

  • Representative Peter Blute (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Joseph Moakley (D) — Ranking Democrat on Rules Committee.

Michigan

  • Representative James Barcia (D) — Member of both Transportation and Infrastructure and Science committees.
  • Representative David Bonior (D) — Member of House Democratic leadership (minority whip).
  • Representative John Dingell (D) — Ranking Democrat on Commerce Committee, helpful with product liability and environmental issues.
  • Representative Vern Ehlers (R) — Aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Debbie Stabenow (D) — Established AOPA supporter, running for U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Representative Bart Stupak (D) — Established AOPA supporter, helpful with FCC radio fees.
  • Representative Fred Upton (R) — Former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.

Minnesota

  • Representative James Oberstar (D) — Ranking Democrat on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, former chairman of aviation subcommittee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Collin Peterson (D) — AOPA member and pilot, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Martin Sabo (D) — Appropriations transportation subcommittee member, chairman of Budget Committee.

Mississippi

Representative Mike Parker (R) — AOPA member and pilot, Appropriations Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter. Chip Pickering (R) — Established AOPA supporter, running for U.S. House of Representatives.

Missouri

  • Representative Pat Danner (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Richard Gephardt (D) — House minority leader.
  • Representative Karen McCarthy (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.

Montana

  • Senator Max Baucus (D) — Established AOPA supporter.

New Hampshire

  • Representative Charles Bass (R) — AOPA member and pilot, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Bill Zeliff (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.

New Jersey

  • Kathleen Donovan (R) — Established AOPA supporter, running for U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Representative Bob Franks (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative William Martini (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Robert Menendez (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.

New Mexico

  • Senator Pete Domenici (R) — Budget Committee chairman, appropriations transportation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Joe Skeen (R) — AOPA member and pilot, Appropriations Committee member.

New York

  • Representative Sherwood Boehlert (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Sue Kelly (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Susan Molinari (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Jack Quinn (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committeemember.
  • Representative Gerald Solomon (R) — Chairman of Rules Committee.

North Carolina

  • Representative Cass Ballenger (R) — Former aviation subcommittee member, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Howard Coble (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.

North Dakota

  • Representative Earl Pomeroy (D) — Established AOPA supporter.

Ohio

  • Representative John Boehner (R) — Member of House Republican leadership (chairman of Republican conference).
  • Representative Steve LaTourette (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Tom Sawyer (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.

Oklahoma

  • Senator James Inhofe (R) — AOPA member and pilot, former House aviation subcommittee member, 1994 AOPA Hartranft Award winner for work to obtain product liability reform, established AOPAsupporter.
  • Representative Steve Largent (R) — AOPA member and pilot, Science Committee member.

Oregon

  • Senator Ron Wyden (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.

Pennsylvania

  • Representative Robert Borski (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Thomas Foglietta (D) — Appropriations transportation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Frank Mascara (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Bud Shuster (R) — Chairman of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, established AOPA supporter.

South Carolina

  • Representative James Clyburn (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.

South Dakota

  • Senator Larry Pressler (R) — Chairman of Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Rick Weiland (D) — Established AOPA supporter.

Tennessee

  • Representative Bob Clement (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative John Duncan (R) — Chairman of aviation subcommittee, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative James Quillen (R) — Rules Committee member, helpful with flight service station issues, established AOPA supporter.

Texas

  • Senator Phil Gramm (R) — Established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Richard Armey (R) — House Majority Leader.
  • Representative Thomas DeLay (R) — Appropriations transportation subcommittee member, member of House Republican leadership (majority whip), established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative Chet Edwards (D) — AOPA member and pilot, member of House Democratic leadership (chief deputy whip), established AOPA supporter.
  • Ed Harrison (R) — AOPA member and pilot, running for U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Sam Johnson (R) — AOPA member and pilot, established AOPA supporter.
  • John Sawyer (D) — AOPA member and pilot, running for U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Representative Charles Stenholm (D) — Established AOPA supporter.

Utah

  • Representative James Hansen (R) — AOPA member and pilot, 1994 AOPA Hartranft Award winner for work to obtain product liability reform, established AOPA supporter.
  • Representative William Orton (D) — Pilot, established AOPA supporter.

Virginia

  • Representative Herbert Bateman (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Thomas Bliley (R) — Chairman of Commerce Committee, helpful with product liability and environmental issues.
  • Representative Frank Wolf (R) — Chairman of appropriations transportation subcommittee, established AOPA supporter.

Washington

  • Representative Jennifer Dunn (R) — Ways and Means Committee member, former aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Randy Tate (R) — Aviation subcommittee member.

West Virginia

  • Senator Jay Rockefeller (D) — Aviation subcommittee member.
  • Representative Nick Rahall (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.
  • Representative Robert Wise (D) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.

Wisconsin

  • Representative David Obey (D) — Ranking Democrat on Appropriations Committee.
  • Representative Thomas Petri (R) — Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member.

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