City Of Phoenix Aviation Director Jim Bennett’s Comments On House Bill 2817

From the City of Phoenix:

February 18, 2020

This afternoon, the Arizona House of Representatives passed House Bill 2817 (HB 2817) 4-3 in the Regulatory Affairs Committee. HB 2817 now continues to move forward in the House for further action. Jim Bennett, city of Phoenix Aviation Director, and various people spoke, or signed in against the bill. They include:

• Leezie Kim, Chair of the Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board
• Tommy Romig, Chairman of Support Sky Harbor and Director of Operations SSP America
• David Warren, Principal of Blue Sky Parking
• Mark Pilwallis, Vice President of Gannett Fleming

• Joya Kizer Clarke, President and CEO CASA Unlimited Enterprises, INC.

• Janna Day, Arizona Policy Connect on behalf of Southwest Airlines
• John MacDonald, Policy AZ on behalf of American Airlines

The following is an excerpt from Jim Bennett's comments:

“HB2817 is unfair to all businesses paying their fair share to operate at the state's largest economic driver, Sky Harbor International Airport, as well as other airports throughout the state. The airport receives no state or local tax dollars, operating almost wholly on collected fees. This bill would financially harm America's number one rated airport. This legislation favors two out-of-state companies while leaving more than 1,100 other business operating, many local, at the airport holding the bag."

This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author’s own.