Jun 28, 2006 11:31 pm US/Central
Wright Amendment Deal Approved By City Of Dallas
by Jack Fink
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
There was a bit of surprise at Dallas City Hall Wednesday night. Council members approved the deal to eventually end the Wright Amendment at Dallas Love Field, but the decision was
not unanimous.
Ten council members joined Dallas Mayor Laura Miller in voting for the deal, three members were absent, and the lone opponent was Dr. Maxine Thornton-Reese.
Thornton-Reese told council members she's worried that slashing the number of gates at Love Field could cost the city jobs.
"I really believe that it's a difference about jobs. I think it makes a difference in the economy, and that's the airport that we own. It's my gut feeling I cannot," Thornton-Reese said.
During the meeting Mayor Miller tried to convince the council member to change her vote, saying, "If you could maybe consider voting with us, it would really be, it would really be great. To just show congress that we're united on this issue."
It was just Tuesday that Mayor Miller, Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, the heads of American and Southwest Airlines, DFW Airport officials went to Capitol Hill. There the north Texas delegation urged congress to approve their Wright Amendment agreement, without any changes.
The trip came two weeks after all parties involved struck the deal.
If approved by congress, the restrictions on long-haul flights out of Love Field would end in eight years.
CBS 11 News asked Mayor Miller if she was either embarrassed or disappointed that the vote wasn't unanimous.
"I just assumed it would have a unanimous vote. When something is this big, and this historic, and all of us are just so relieved that it's done. We're the first participant to sign off on the contract, so it was a big moment. So I was a little surprised when Dr. Reese said she wasn't going to vote for it," Miller said.
Thursday morning, the DFW Airport Board will vote on the deal, and then July 11th, the Fort Worth City Council will consider it.
On July 12th local leaders will return to Capitol Hill for a hearing. If congress doesn't approve the agreement by the end of the year it's will be null and void.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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