MWAA thumbs nose at Congress
By E M Barner | Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 | Northern Virginia, Politics, VirginiaThe Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority (MWAA) has been the subject of intense controversy due to its wasteful spending, lack of accountability, and plan to impose increasing tolls on Northern Virginia commuters to pay for expansion of metro rail service to the Dulles Airport.
Recently, Congressman Frank Wolf got language included in the Transportation Appropriations bill which would require increased transparency and accountability for MWAA. Specifically, the language set a two-term limit for board members and required – shocker – them to leave the board at the end of their terms (instead of staying on until they are replaced). It also allowed board members to be removed for cause.
MWAA responded to Congressman Wolf in a letter essentially stating that it had retained outside legal counsel and intended to ignore Congressional direction on these matters unless and until Virginia and Maryland change their laws to force such accountability.
Despite MWAA’s record of unaccountability and poor management decisions, Wolf has long pushed for expansion of rail to Dulles. Now, with MWAA behaving true to form, the Congressman is demanding more transparency so that ” the region can once again have confidence that the airports and the Dulles Rail project have sound management.” (Wolf letter to Charles Snelling, Chairman of MWAA Board; 12/2/11)
See Congressman Wolf’s full response on his website.
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About the author
E M Barner, the blogger formerly known as DCH / De Civitate Hominis (“concerning the city of man”), writes from a Northern Virginia perspective. Barner has been active in Republican politics and policy since 1994 – as a grassroots volunteer, party leader, and professional.
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9 Responses to "MWAA thumbs nose at Congress"
Senate candidate Jamie Radtke has been all over this. She would provide strong leadership on this issue.
VA Patriot,
Interesting position, as in the ancient Chinese curse “may you live in interesting times.
1. As far as I can tell from the MWAA budget documents, total annual operating expenses are approximately $642M. Of that, approximately $146M comes from grants from the Federal DOT, Maryland, and Virginia in somewhat equal parts. If MWAA is abolished and Virginia assumes operation of the airports and the Dulles toll road, I doubt very seriously if the Federal government and Maryland will continue to participate. So will Virginia tax payers be responsible for the roughly $100M that MWAA now receives from the Federal government and Maryland, or does Radtke plan on finding $100M in waste to eliminate? 15% is a lot of waste, even for an agency with a non-elected board.
2. Radtke thinks that Virginia can manage the Dulles Toll Road better than MWAA. The Dulles Toll Road toll is going up to $1.50 on January 1. The Dulles Greenway which is not operated by MWAA but by a private company under a contract with Virginia charges $5.55 for the same 14-mile distance. Is this an example of how Radtke will save commuters money?
3. The current budget for MWAA was approved by the board by a unanimous 9-0 vote, including Tom Davis and the other minority Virginia members. What makes Radtke think that all-Virginian management will come up with a better budget?
Like most of Radtke’s campaign positions, this one is like cotton candy–all empty sugar calories that give you a high and make you feel good, but no substantive value.
It is not prudent for Loudoun, Fairfax or the State of Virginia to hand over $100s of millions of dollars to MWAA, considering the (Federal) Government Accountability Office has repeatedly identified unsatisfactory management practices involving millions of dollars and made recommendations which MWAA has ignored. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-02-36
Virginia is already forcasting a $600M-$1B 2012 deficit and may well see a loss of jobs if defense spending is cut back.
How will anyone know if this money is being managed properly by MWAA given there is no audit oversight of MWAA ?
If you want a good laugh, read MWAA’s proposal to Virginia they used to get control of the Dulles Toll Road. This is a direct quote, “We will also work with the jurisdictions to inform their citizens of the scope of the improvements to the corridor, with timely information on projects that may affect the users of the corridor.” Bla bla bla.
Delegate Joe May, Chairman of the transportation committee seems to think that MWAA will get in line if he sends them enough letters. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
Bob Marshall and Dick Black have proposed bills to make State funding available only if MWAA drops the PLA and opens their books. That makes good sense.
I suggest taking a real close look at any leaders who try to block these bills. The heck with MWAA. This is about fiscal responsibility and keeping jobs in Virginia.
Don’t expect MWAA to roll over without a fight. This should be fun to watch. Go Frank.
Rocky, how do justify doing nothing to what is hemmoraging needed tax revenue and how do you continue to advocate for something that gives Virginia a raw deal? What? You think the Feds in Washington that live and drive there will just take their toys and go home? Well….walk home. Or boat home. it isn’t wrong to insist that you get fair representation and not get shafted.
This isn’t “empty” politics. This is about righting a wrong and recapturing a secure economy. Stop the bleeding or eventually you will bleed out.
Britt,
Your comment makes no sense whatsoever. Do you have a point you are trying to make? The only course of action here in Radtke’s plan will be “hemmoraging needed tax revenue” by Virginia paying Maryland’s and the Federal government’s share of MWAA grants. Or are you under the delusion that they will pony up $100M to Virginia with no representation at all?
Nice try, Rocky. My comment doesn’t make sense because you don’t like it. Just subtle ad hominem on your part.
Let me explain something to you:
1. This IS NOT JUST a Radtke position. As stated in the article, “Congress”. In fact, Rocky, Radtke’s activism on this issue was so absent a reply was made above bringing that fact up. Here at the George Allen love fest, they don’t jump at the chance to credit Radtke for anything even if they are all for her position. It screws with their narrative. But maybe you Rocky, have more sense than Congress and Radtke. Oh and me, you condescending chap that you are.
2. Did you or did you not read what was said about the GAO pointing to poor practices by the MWAA? Are you connected to theses guys are something?
3. Being taken advantage of is not ok, even if you successfully paint it as “only screwed over by a little bit”
4. Unfair representation especially given Virginia’s exposure and unfairness the are subject to, is never an “ok” thing.
5. The idea is to replace MWAA something that doesn’t shaft Virginia. The Feds and even Maryland have a stake in traffic in that area. Maybe Maryland may choose to go it alone and go rot, but you are damn freakin’ straight that. The Fed will indeed play ball now that Virginia has stopped being a co-dependent punching bag. You act as if they have no stake and can go it alone if Virginia insists on freakin’ justice. If you are so enamored with Virginia getting screwed, then you sir, are the enemy. We have disagreed in the past and I respected you and our occasional differences. If you just want to talk down to me and Radtke, and Congress for thinking MWAA is bad practice, bad for Virginia, bad for the economy, and good for crony capitalism and big government…..to heck with you. Whomever you are. Somebody called out the “emperor” as wearing no clothes and you go on attack.
6. At the end of the day, we just want fair Representation and legitimate sound handling of money/projects. This isn’t about wanting to totally deny the Fed or Maryland any say so.
Nobody respects a $20 whore and that is exactly how Virginia is being treated. If Virginia is now determined to stand up for it’s right GOOD FOR VIRGINIA.
You’re a smart guy. You absolutely know Virginia has real grievances. So, don’t go all “superior to thou” when you know we have a case.
Gosh, Britt, just a little fired up about this issue or are you simply angry that Radtke isn’t getting credit for campaigning on the obvious?
Answer my all three of the questions in my first post, and then we can have a conversation. As to your points:
1. Congress is not calling for the abolishing of MWAA, not even Wolfe goes that far. That is Radtke’s position alone.
2. The GAO issues a report at least once a week criticizing the Defense Department for one thing or another. Would Radtke also abolish the DoD?
3. This I don’t understand at all. When did I say that it was okay to be “screwed over just a little?”
4. Virginia is an equal partner with Maryland and the Federal government with equal representation. MWAA is a regional state-Federal board. Just because the toll road and the airports are physically located in Virginia that does mean that the replacement board should be composed solely of Virginia representatives, as Radtke proposes?
5. If you really think that the Feds are going to continue to grant to the airports and the toll road if the MWAA is abolished and replaced by an all-Virginian board, you are terribly naive.
6. Wolfe is proposing increased representation for Virginia. Watch Radtke on the tape again. She is proposing that Virginia take back operation of the toll road and have the option of managing the airports. That sounds an awful lot like she wants “to totally deny the Fed or Maryland any say so.”
1.So? She advocates replacing it.
2. You’re comparing apples & oranges. Additionally there are no charges of a lack of representation that would prevent change through VOTER ACCOUUNTABILITY.
3. When you defend the MWAA status quo, you support Virginia getting screwed.
4. Your aassertion that Virginia is equal to anybody in the MWAA is absurd. If there was an equal setting we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I am not in favor of leaving them out the location certainly argues for Virginia’s case! If that is Radtke’s position I disagree, but applaud putting that option on the table if the other parties refuse to treat Virginians fairly.
5. That isn’t necessary (having Va only representation) , but if it came down to it they will have little choice. Maryland can go fly a kite.
6. Yeah! Because he knows Virginia is getting screwed! Besides, Rocky, taking over the toll and OPTION on the airport DOES NOT in itself deny representation. Only responisibility and who executes those duties is moved in those cases. This isn’t just about Radtke. You wish it was.
You’re damn right I am fired up. You support Virginians being screwed and you were a totally condescending jerk in your previous post. Don’t expect me to respect either.
BTW, how’s that anger management stuff coming along, Britt?
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