The Hill - Former Rivals Poe, Lampson Team up to Kill Air Tax

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The Hill - Former Rivals Poe, Lampson Team up to Kill Air Tax

Jonathan E. Kaplan

Finding common ground in Congress can be tough, but two once-bitter foes, Texas Reps. Ted Poe (R) and Nick Lampson (D), are joining together to defeat a proposed increase in a tax levied by airports.

Poe nearly ended Lampson's congressional career in 2004. Then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) engineered a redistricting plan, turning Lampson's formerly Democratic-leaning district Republican and ushering Poe into office. The redistricting cost four white male Democrats, including Lampson, their congressional seats.

When DeLay was forced to step down as majority leader and retire from Congress in 2005, Lampson ran for the vacated seat, narrowly beating a write-in candidate.

Poe and Lampson each represent parts of the Houston area, which is serviced by the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and the William P. Hobby Airport. Poe represents Humble, Texas, which is adjacent to Intercontinental.

The two lawmakers have offered an amendment to legislation providing funds to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that would kill a proposed increase in the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), a user fee levied by airports to pay for infrastructure and security projects. The FAA reauthorization bill would increase the fee, which is passed on to the airlines and added to the cost of plane tickets, from $4.50 to $7.

Local airport authorities currently determine exactly how much to charge; they can levy less than $4.50.

House Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) said in a statement in June that the PFC needed to be increased because the average construction costs in 30 major U.S. cities have risen 24 percent during the past three years. A $2.50 increase is expected to generate $1.1 billion per year in additional revenue for airport development.

Lampson and Poe believe such an increase would deter travelers from flying. Poe said rural travelers forced to connect through a major hub would be hurt the most.

The Rules Committee must approve the amendment before it can be considered on the House floor on Thursday.
Aside from the merits of raising the fee, what's it like to work with someone who defeated you?

"It's something that has to be on your mind, but we have to able to see past that," Lampson said in a phone interview while waiting for a flight to Washington from Houston. "This is about a policy, not about the people. I didn't think in terms of Ted Poe.

"I'm sick of the divisiveness [in Congress]," Lampson added. "I look forward to working with him, to do something positive."

"This amendment is a mutual concern for both of us. It is somewhat ironic," Poe said with a chuckle.

Poe said he spoke with Lampson on Tuesday.

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