Sound Politics: Democratic County Council Vows to Break Promise

June 07, 2008

Democratic County Council Vows to Break Promise

Even I didn't think they would go this far. Shows what I know.

Small passenger service airline Allegiant Air wants to have service at Paine Field in Snohomish County. Because the county has accepted millions of dollars from the federal government, it is prohibited from discriminating against any type of aviation use, including commercial service.

But the four Democrats on the County Council have vowed to do precisely that: discriminate against Allegiant Air, simply because of the service it provides. And now the FAA is threatening to pull funding.

The FAA made a point of noting that the county "is obligated to make areas available for lease on reasonable terms and negotiate in good faith," because the county clearly is not meeting those obligations.

Even if funding is pulled -- as perhaps some people would prefer to having Allegiant Air service -- it would still represent Snohomish County turning its back on its obligations, its promises. When you take the money, you are promising you will abide by the terms, not just at the moment, but for the future. The runways and so on are paid for with the expectation that aviators will not be discriminated against.

The Democrats on the Council are breaking the promise Snohomish County made. It's not right.

I personally couldn't care less either way about Paine Field. I don't live close to it. And if I did live there, I probably wouldn't want expanded air service. But rules are rules, and promises are promises, and I do have an interest in my county doing what it promises it will do.

Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.

Posted by pudge at June 07, 2008 09:20 AM | Email This

Comments

1. They're democrats. Are you surprised?

To even BE a democrat requires a series of compromises... why wouldn't they compromise on integrity when there's possible political gain?

Posted by: Hinton on June 7, 2008 09:44 AM

2. A fine Catch 22 they've got on their hands. I wasn't aware of this, but will try to follow it as it unravels. That's the nasty reality of politicians. They'll ask for a handout and then think they have carte blanche over the use of it despite the fine print and conditions they've agreed to before accepting it.

Reardon and the other Democrats on the council will have to accept the fact that when "daddy" hands out a few dollars from his wallet, sometimes there are some strings attached.

Posted by: Rick D. on June 7, 2008 09:56 AM

3. Rick, then they wouldn't be Democrats.

First they have to make such a big stink whining about The Man leaning on them that the Fed ends up giving them money for noise abatement, or something.

Posted by: Al on June 7, 2008 10:43 AM

4. This is the latest example of my dems vs reps political dictionary.
Freedom for reps means freedom from gov. tyranny.
Freedom for dems means freedom from responsibility and obligation.

Posted by: PC on June 7, 2008 11:39 AM

5. 1. According to our constitution and good gov principles, the Federal Gov should NOT be putting money into a local airport - specially given our massive deficit and declining dollar
2. However, since they did that, the Feds do have a say in how the airport is run (another reason the Feds should not put money into local things).
3. However, I think anti-growth and enviro types are killing our economy, killing jobs, hurting boeing, and even hurting the enviroment. Think how much fuel is wasted, traffic congestion, etc. travelling to Sea-Tac by those from Lynnwood to Everett.

Separation of Church and State ... Keep Enviro Religion out of Government.

Posted by: John McDonald on June 7, 2008 12:04 PM

6. PC, the reps don't give a rip about freedom, anymore than the dems do. Name one thing that the reps have done to expand freedom on the past decade! You are getting suckered in by their talk, their talk doesn't match their walk.

Posted by: John McDonald on June 7, 2008 12:08 PM

7. so all any airport in the USA could have commercial service at it as long as a "reasonable" price is negotiated?

Because I'm betting that every single airport has recieved some form of federal funding at some point.

Posted by: bedir than average on June 7, 2008 12:46 PM

8. If Snohomish County doesn't want to have commercial airline service, then they don't have to accept federal funding for their airport(s).

Looks like Pudge doesn't think that commercial air service to Snohomish County is a good idea -- at least not to Paine Field.

So what point exactly is Pudge trying to make?

I don't see how this is breaking a promise. It is not any different than a landlord (Paine Field) evicting a long-time well-paying tenant (FAA) because the tenant has suddenly decided to start throwing loud parties (commercial air service).

Posted by: Richard Pope on June 7, 2008 01:30 PM

9. Stupid pols holding us back. Change the name of the airport to Everett-Seattle Intl., give Southwest Airlines a call, and save the folks of Snohomish County that nasty commute to Sea-Tac airport.

Posted by: AP on June 7, 2008 01:48 PM

10. Richard Pope:

"Looks like Pudge doesn't think that commercial air service to Snohomish County is a good idea -- at least not to Paine Field."

As I said, "I personally couldn't care less either way about Paine Field." So if you mean I don't think it is a good idea in the sense that I neither think it is good nor bad, then yes.

"So what point exactly is Pudge trying to make?"

Richard, you are not that dumb. I clearly stated my point. It was in the post's title, it was throughout the post: the Democrats want to break the county's promise.

"I don't see how this is breaking a promise."

Then you don't understand the issue. The FAA says "if you accept this money, you are required to do such-and-such." SnoCo took the money, and is now not living up to its requirements.

"It is not any different than a landlord (Paine Field) evicting a long-time well-paying tenant (FAA) because the tenant has suddenly decided to start throwing loud parties (commercial air service)."

Actually, it is completely different from that. It's hard to know where to begin, the analogy is so wrong. First, the FAA is not a tenant. We could kill the analogy and stop right there, of course. And since you are boring me, I will do that.

Posted by: pudge on June 7, 2008 02:36 PM

11. #8 says, "If Snohomish County doesn't want to have commercial airline service, then they don't have to accept federal funding for their airport(s)." Mr. Pope, the FAA doesn't just go around handing out money. The County had to apply for this money (a grant application). It IS breaking a promise - when a state or local government receives a federal award it agrees to use the money only for the reasons as stated in the award letter. Along with that comes the fine print. If the County, in this case, doesn't follow the fine print, they can be compelled to pay all of the money back to the feds (and since I've been a govt auditor I can't remember the feds ever making a local government pay back money that was improperly used).

Posted by: Stan on June 7, 2008 09:28 PM

12. JM@6, the tax cut that the dems are lamenting comes to mind. It's a freedom to retain what you've earned.
Want another more recent?? This weeks climate change bill. Though one could say McCain weasled out on it (I would say that) Barak and Hill did the same as well. However, notice how the reps are getting the blame, which I would say "credit" for that one.

Posted by: PC on June 7, 2008 09:37 PM

13. Stan, you are, of course, exactly right. Even if repayment was written into the deal, it likely wouldn't happen. But that doesn't justify breaking the promise.

Posted by: pudge on June 7, 2008 09:38 PM

14. Pudge I usually ignore most of Pope's comments. If the Manson murders were done by Democrats he would defend by diverting attention away from the subject.
Democrats are dishonest politicians and so are many Republicans. If they are liberal the lie justifies the means. Divert divert divert. Never stay on topic.
An Agreement has been made broken though it may be the people of this state will still reelect them because they are Democrats. There is no integrity or honesty within the Democrat party once they have power. But that is so often true when you have only a one party system. Western Washington is such a one party system. The system is broken because the party in power removes anyone who tries to do Check and Balance of the system. IF the Republicans had the majority as the Democrats do I am afraid they too would act like they do not care.
We lack the statesmen who do politics for the good of the State not the good of the Party. Washington has several good Statesmen. Today they are thrown out of the party because if you show that type of tendency of common sense you do not belong to the party anymore. How many Democrats switch party to Republican just to get elected. As though the Party name will change the historical voting records. Here we have Democrats running the show and ensure that they maintain power. An agreement/Contract with the FAA is violated. If we as citizens violated a contract would be not be in court the next day. Honesty and integrity where is it in the Democrat party? We see case after case of political power plays. Just with all broken promises of the Democrats we tried to fix the issue we just need more money. Every year things get worse and worse. The recent History of the Washington State Democrat party is shown within the light of this article. Because it is not limited to one issue hundreds of issues every year show the same political hack process. Lack of Honesty. Lack of Integrity. Desire of total power. Desire ever higher taxes from the people. Corner stones of the Democrat party of today.

Posted by: David Anfinrud on June 8, 2008 07:29 AM

15. O-my god...

Pope, shut your mouth. Talk about something you know???. As a pilot myself I understand the problems with Paine. Yep I live under it and enjoy watching the birds/aircraft take off, which I'm one of them.
If you want to slow down or stop some air traffic, do this. Ask for stage-3 only. They must be the most quiet of all.

Try that for a start. More to come if you wish. But be smart (Yeah I know I'm asking a bunch)

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on June 8, 2008 05:50 PM

16. I see that others have seen the Pope speak when he should be listening.

When SeaTac was debating the 3rd Runway, they analyzed Paine Field. They dropped it like a hot potato because Drewel and the D council didn't want it. They put into writing a policy against expanding service. That was about 1992 to 1994 vintage. Then, the Council changed the zoning and allowed a ton (and I mean a ton) of residential housing that would be affected by the extra noise, if there were an expansion.

I am surprised at this lastest twist- promising, in exchange for grant money- they wouldn't turn down even the most modest excursion (i.e. once the genie is out of the bottle you can't put her back in) into commercial service.

Personally, I would like the local service. I hate going down to SeaTac to take a shuttle to a large regional airport before I get on a big bird.

I.E., if not Paine then where?

Posted by: swatter on June 9, 2008 08:30 AM

17. Allegiant Air is still flying old MD-80's...not sure I'd want their planes tarnishing the home values of those mega-McMansions out there in Snohomish County.

Posted by: Cato on June 9, 2008 01:06 PM