The Capitol Fax Blog

Thursday, Apr 28, 2005

All the hooplah about the Third Chicago Airport progress may be premature.

State Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson and Will County Executive Larry Walsh have both told 1340 WJOL News that what was widely reported in media outlets earlier this week about Congressman Jesse Jackson Junior perhaps winning his Peotone airport battle with Will County is extremely misleading. This was after the Illinois Departmnet of Transportation forwarded a tenative plan to the Federal Aviation Administration. […]

Both say that all that was agreed upon was the “technical plan,” concerning the length of a single runway and the number of gates.

Walsh, in fact, says that most of the ideas agreed upon actually came from the IDOT, rather than Congressman Jackson. Halvorson and Walsh both say that the major issue still up for grabs is “Who will have control of the Peotone Airport if it is ever built?”

Halvorson says she has received word from Governor Blagojevich and State Senate President Emil Jones that this “Governance Issue” will not be solved until Halvorson herself is happy with what she sees. And she says, Will County will have control.

There’s more fighting on the way.

- posted by Rich Miller

7 Comments

- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 28, 05 @ 3:50 pm:
I hope Sen. Halvorson has weighed the consequences that come with messing with J-cubed and his family’s friends - they can be a real pain in the butt, especially during Primary Season.

I’m agnostic on the 3rd Airport issue - but I know the Jacksons and one thing’s for sure: they hold a grudge longer than the Irish do…and that could mean trouble for the good senator.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 28, 05 @ 8:03 pm:
Halvorson is the best looking Majority Leader in history! WOOF!

- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 28, 05 @ 9:24 pm:
We can all see that the Governor is bowing down to Jesse Jackson, a better politican than He.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 28, 05 @ 10:41 pm:
where is Halvorson and Will county’s plan? to date, no one has seen it. besides, JJJ is not likly to turn over his pet airport plan to anyone. he is one of the few who has butted heads against the Mayor… does the Sen. think he won’t do the same with her?

- Tom Joad - Friday, Apr 29, 05 @ 9:39 am:
Senator Halvorson is teamed up with the new County Executive, Larry Walsh. Just how much power does the new Executive have? It isn’t clear. But he does have enough clout to stop Jesse Jr. from getting 100% of his way. The airport is a long way off, and no final decisions will be made for quite a while.

- Anonymous - Saturday, Apr 30, 05 @ 7:07 am:
Its amazing how many people can interpret a couple comments so differently. I heard Halvorsons comments on WJOL and all she said was the governance is still up in the air, needs to still be worked out. The technical part which everyone agreed on has been sent to the FAA.

No one is fighting with the Congressman. She even congratulated him for bringing this project this far.

That’s the trouble with these bloggers, rumers get started and its not very positive. This is a big project for not only will county but the entire state and lets make sure we keep it about the facts.

The Senator is the one working with all sides. I know this because I was in a couple of those meetings.

- Anonymous - Sunday, May 1, 05 @ 10:56 pm:
working with all sides but yet teamed up with Will County officials? give me a break!
who developed the plan submitted by the state to the FAA and when did she start “working” with JJJ and become his broker.

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