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Southwest Airlines Coming to Kansas
Jan 13 2012
Wichita, KS – Southwest Airlines has committed to serve Wichita according to local and state leaders who met with the airline late last week. “We are pleased to announce that Southwest Airlines has agreed to serve Mid-Continent Airport,” stated Mayor Carl Brewer. “Wichita has been anxiously waiting to hear what the future plans were with regard to Southwest Airlines and we are thrilled with this news.”
Last week, a small delegation of elected officials and business leaders travelled to Dallas to meet with high-level officials at Southwest Airlines.
The delegation was comprised of the following officials:
Governor Sam Brownback
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran
Mayor Carl Brewer
Sedgwick County Commissioner Dave Unruh
Lynn Nichols, Immediate Past Chair, Wichita Metro Chamber
Jeff Turner, President and CEO, Spirit AeroSystems
Jack Pelton, Retired Chairman and CEO, Cessna Aircraft Company
Victor White, Director of Airports, Wichita Airport Authority
“This is exciting news for Wichita and south central Kansas. Quality commercial air service is key to economic growth,” Gov. Brownback said. “My administration looks forward to working with leaders of Wichita, Sedgwick County and Southwest Airlines leaders to finalize this partnership. We thank Gary Kelly, Chairman and CEO, Southwest Airlines, and his leadership team for their commitment of this process and look forward to the arrival of Southwest Airlines in Kansas.”
“As you know, Southwest Airlines acquired Air Tran in 2011 and is currently in the process of integrating Air Tran into their company,” said Sedgwick County Commissioner Dave Unruh. “Officials at Southwest Airlines informed us service will continue in Kansas under the Air Tran name until 2013 and then a transition to Southwest Airlines will occur.”
“Southwest Airlines did request the continuation of the Kansas Affordable Airfares Program,” said Lynn Nichols, immediate past chair, Wichita Metro Chamber.
The delegation said Southwest Airlines made it clear that this is a critical component for them to enter this market. The Kansas Affordable Airfares Program, a city, county and state effort, has been in place for the past six years with a positive return on investment. The purpose of the program helps provide more air flight options, more competition for air travel and affordable airfares for all Kansans. At the state level, affordable airfares is funded by the state’s Economic Development Initiatives Fund and is included in the Governor’s Recommended FY2013 Budget as a key component of the Governor’s Economic Development Strategic Plan.
“Not only has this program been successful for the leisure traveler, it is a vital piece for recruiting and retaining business,” said Lynn Nichols, recent chair of the Wichita Metro Chamber. “Having affordable flights and many flight choices is essential for keeping the cost of business competitive. We appreciate the continued support of this program from the Kansas legislature, the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County.”
“Today’s announcement is wonderful news for Kansas,” Senator Moran said. “As a resident of Western Kansas, I know firsthand the importance of maintaining commercial air service in communities across Kansas. I thank Southwest Airlines for their decision to not only maintain air service at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport via Air Tran, but also eventually fully switch over to Southwest Airlines, which will contribute significantly to Kansans’ quality of life and our state’s economic future. I look forward to Kansas continuing to build a fruitful relationship with Southwest Airlines and I look forward to flying Southwest out of Wichita very soon.”
The delegation said Southwest is currently preparing a comprehensive plan that includes an analysis of potential routes to and from Wichita, and an announcement from Southwest will come later when that market study of opportunities is completed.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement on the President’s request to raise the debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion:
“The President’s request to raise the debt ceiling yet again is a painful reminder of Washington’s out-of-control spending habits and failure to live by a budget. Our country’s debt now stands at more than $15 trillion and has grown by nearly $4.5 trillion in the past three years alone.
“Last year, I informed President Obama that I would not vote to raise the debt ceiling unless I saw substantial reductions in spending and structural changes in the way business is conducted in Washington, D.C.
“Nearly one year later, here we are again with the same request – yet the President and Congress have failed to put forward a long-term plan to address our growing fiscal crisis. The recommendations put forward by the Bowles-Simpson Commission represent a good starting point and should be seriously considered by Congress. Given the bipartisan support for many of their proposals, I am disappointed their recommendations continue to be ignored.
“Simply raising the debt limit without a serious plan to reduce our debt will only continue this pattern of fiscal irresponsibility, so I cannot support this request.”
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WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today urged Boeing’s CEO, Mr. James McNerney, to consider conveying its Wichita facility to a local or state development authority. Earlier this month, Boeing announced it would close its Wichita facility by 2013, but the future of the facility is still uncertain.
“Despite the loss of more than 2,000 Boeing jobs, I am confident that given Wichita’s skilled workforce, leading facilities, and dedicated leaders, the city will bounce back, maintaining its reputation as the Air Capital of the World,” Sen. Moran said. “The city of Wichita and the state of Kansas have been key partners in Boeing’s success over the years. As Boeing seeks to find a new owner for the Wichita facility after operations cease in 2013, I ask that you seriously consider conveying the property to a local or state development authority. Such a contribution will enable the city of Wichita to attract new industries and get its economy back on track.”
Sen. Moran also called on McNerney to meet with state and local officials to explore this option further given their longtime support and partnership with Boeing. According to various sources, since 1979 the city of Wichita has provided more than $3.5 billion in industrial revenue bonds to finance Boeing facilities and $650 million in property tax abatements. Boeing has also profited from lower taxes and worker training programs put into place by the state of Kansas.
The full text of the letter to Mr. McNerney can be accessed here.
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WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement in response to Boeing’s announcement today that they plan to close their Wichita facility within the next two years.
“Today I join thousands of Kansans who are outraged by the announcement that Boeing will be closing its Wichita defense facility – leaving the future for hundreds of Kansas workers in jeopardy. As recently as 10 months ago, I joined these workers and local and state officials in Wichita to celebrate Boeing’s victory in the tanker competition. During the competition for the contract, Boeing pledged that a win would bring approximately 7,500 jobs to Kansas, including hundreds of Boeing jobs associated with the finishing work on the new tankers. It is hard to believe that conditions would have changed so rapidly over the past few months to bring about the decision to not only move the tanker finishing work elsewhere, but to also close down the entire facility. The fact that Boeing is now refusing to honor its commitment to the people of Kansas is greatly troubling to me and to thousands of Kansans who trusted that Boeing’s promise would be kept.
“Furthermore, it was merely six weeks ago when Boeing officials announced they were studying the future of the Wichita site. In this short amount of time, I have urged Boeing leadership to meet with state and local officials to discuss alternatives to the closure of its facility. To my dismay, Boeing’s senior leadership chose not to meet with local Wichita officials or even give them a serious opportunity to work together on a different plan for the future. I am astonished Boeing would make such a hasty decision without considering all of the alternatives or the significant impact this decision will have.
“A company so much a part of the Wichita community for 80 years should not make this decision lightly. I strongly urge Boeing’s senior leaders to reconsider this decision that will have a devastating impact on hundreds of Kansas families. Boeing has been a vital part of our community and we want them to remain in Wichita for many years to come. In the days ahead, I will continue to do all I can to encourage Boeing to fulfill their pledge to the Wichita community.”
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WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Banking Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, issued the following statement today on President Obama’s recess appointment of Richard Cordray to be the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):
“Today’s end-run around the Senate could have easily been avoided had the Administration seriously considered the request made by more than 40 senators back in April to bring accountability to the Bureau. Instead of having a reasonable conversation about the merits of our proposal, the President has chosen to break decades of precedent and put politics ahead of the best interests of consumers. This debate has never been about the nominee or about the presence of a strong consumer protection regulator – it is about installing three good governance principles originally supported by the President.”
Sen. Moran, along with 44 other Senators, notified President Obama in April that he will not confirm any nominee – regardless of party affiliation – to be the Director of the new CFPB absent structural changes that will make the Bureau accountable to the American people.
Additionally, Sen. Moran has introduced legislation to reform the structure of the CFPB. The Responsible Consumer Financial Protection Regulations Act of 2011, S. 737, would replace the single CFPB Director with a Senate-confirmed multi-person commission – similar to the leadership structure of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trade Commission (CFTC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It would also subject the CFPB to the regular appropriations process like most federal agencies.
Click here to view the full text of S. 737, the Responsible Consumer Financial Protection Regulations Act of 2011.
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HAYS, KS – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) completed his first statewide listening tour to all 105 counties across Kansas on Saturday, December 31, 2011. His final stop was in his hometown of Hays in Ellis County at the K-State Ag Research Center.
“The work I do in Washington and the issues I focus on are largely based on the conversations I have with Kansans,” Sen. Moran said. “I greatly appreciate the hundreds of Kansans who took the time to visit with me because I learn something from every conversation I have.”
When Sen. Moran served in the U.S. House of Representatives, he held a listening tour stop in each of the 69 counties he represented in the “Big First” district. Now as a U.S. Senator representing all Kansans, Sen. Moran has continued his tradition of traveling back to Kansas at every opportunity to visit with residents throughout the state to hear their thoughts and concerns.
“Sen. Moran’s commitment to return home regularly to hear from Kansans has given him a solid understanding of the issues and challenges facing farmers and ranchers today,” said Kansas Farm Bureau President Steve Baccus. “We know we have a strong voice in Washington representing us and we are grateful for Sen. Moran’s longtime support.”
“Holding a town hall in all 105 counties in our state is a herculean task,” retired Army Brigadier General Jim AuBuchon said. “Giving Kansas veterans the opportunity to speak directly to their senator on issues that are important to them – whether veterans’ affairs or national security – is unique and greatly benefits those who served our country. Congrats to Senator Moran for the accomplishment and thanks for all the effort, we greatly appreciate it.”
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