Mr Hogg's Pork Award

Flying with Pork-Barrel Airways

It is time to get real on these pork-barrel airport projects. Why should we spend millions of tax dollars just so a few rich private individuals can park their private planes? The airport in Wise and most other areas of Southwest Virginia are unprofitable and will need constant infusions of taxpayer cash to keep going. The fact the taxpayers have to pay for their improvements is proof of that. Even Tri-Cities Airport, in the much larger populated areas of Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, has a difficult time staying afloat and keeping carriers.

As for jobs, the only jobs Wise has managed to "create" are working for the government or heavily subsidized by taxpayers. For example, most jobs "created" in the industrial park by Wise Airport are mainly customer service (call centers or answering the phone) that according to VCEDA pays $6.18 per hour and cost taxpayers thousands per job in subsidies. This has had no impact on the massive working class poverty and low pay scales the region suffers from. (All requests for details on costs, wages, etc. from both VCEDA and Congressman Boucher have been refused.)

Now they want to waste more tax dollars on another useless airport in Dickenson County (a few miles from the unprofitable Wise Airport) while the Dickenson County school system is starved for funding. Good going Congressman Boucher, the hogs are really in a feeding frenzy in Southwest Virginia!

Congress awards $1 million grant to Lonesome Pine Airport

The Coalfield Progress

December 28, 2001

U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced Dec. 19 the U.S. Congress is providing a $1 million grant for improvements to the Lonesome Pine Airport. Congress accepted Boucher's request that funds be used to continue the upgrade of the airport to an all weather facility.

"I am extremely pleased that the Congress has agreed to my request to provide funding for improvements to the Lonesome Pine Airport," Boucher said. "Improvements of the facility are among our region's highest transportation priorities, and the federal funding will ensure that the goal of making the Airport more useable by industry in Wise County is met."

The grant money will be combined with yet another $1 million provided by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2000. The combination of these two contributions will fund installation of an Instrument Landing System at the Lonesome Pine Airport. These improvements will enhance the safety of the airport and allow it to be used during inclement weather.

"The presence of an all weather airport is an essential element in the recruitment of new employers to a region. Many corporations have policies which do not allow them to use the Lonesome Pine Airport given the absence of an ILS," Boucher said.

Boucher concluded that the installation of the ILS will promote economic development for Wise County and the city of Norton, enhancing the quality of life for area residents.

©Coalfield.com 2001

The long line waiting for medical service
Some of the almost 2100 people seen at the Wise Airport in 2001
by the Remote Area Medical (RAM) Project and the Lions Club.
Find out the dirty secret about poverty and this airport.


Mr Hogg's Pork Award

Airport would enhance industrial recruitment, Boucher says

By PAULA DAVIS, Dickenson Star Editor

February 12, 2003

Boucher, D-Abingdon, wants a new airport to serve Dickenson and Buchanan counties, he announced at a community meeting in Clintwood Saturday afternoon.

Dickenson County does not have an airport. And while there is one in Buchanan County, situated on a mountain top above Vansant, it is only sufficient for landing single-engine planes.

When corporations look for new places to open businesses and create new jobs, one of the things they look at is whether a general aviation airport is located nearby, Boucher pointed out.

Many corporations, particularly those with business sites across the country, want to be able to quickly transport personnel from one facility to the next, noted Boucher.

"They often times can't afford the luxury of waiting for a commercial plane, so they have their own small airplanes and have to have a good general aviation airport nearby," he said.

Boucher's goal is to have a new airport built between Clintwood and Grundy along the proposed route of the Coalfields Expressway. Once the expressway is built, the airport would be about 10 to 15 minutes from Clintwood or Grundy, said Boucher.

Boucher was able to get federal funds allocated to do a feasibility study for the project and that study is now under way. He hopes to secure funding later this year to do design and survey work for the project.

If built, the airport would have a runway at least 5,000 feet long, Boucher said, and could possibly even have two runways. It would be a facility at least the size of Lonesome Airport in Wise, he said.

Boucher said the project is the only new airport project on his agenda for the entire 9th District. Two new airports have been built in his district during Boucher's term. A grand opening ceremony was held in December for a new airport in Lee County. The other airport was built 10 years ago near Richlands.

©Coalfield.com 2003

The government just doesn't get it.

See Worlds Apart by Cynthia Duncan
Empty Platitudes on the Poverty Tour by Bill Bishop

 

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