WICHITA, Kansas (AP) - Kansas politicians, union officials and business leaders have launched a counteroffensive to President Barack Obama's jabs at corporate ownership of private jets and his proposal to end subsidies for purchase of the planes.
Amid the debt ceiling showdown in Washington, the president said last week he wants to get rid of what he called "egregious loopholes" that benefit corporate jet owners or oil companiesmaking billions of dollars in profits.Gov. Sam Brownback led a news conference Wednesday in Wichita, a major aircraft manufacturing center. He was joined by aircraft workers, local government officials and business leaders in criticizing Obama's remarks.
“This is a president that just doesn't get it,” said Congressman, Mike Pompeo.
“The aviation industry is the last of the great industries that we have in this country and we need to support it," said Steve Rooney, Machinists Union President.
"The aviation industry has never done anything to warrant these kinds of verbal assaults," said Wichita Chamber Chair, Lynn Nichols.
"There's a belief out there that these planes are only used by CEOs and the wealthy. That's not the case. They're no different than the people on the shop floor. They're a tool to do the jobs," said Rooney.
It's a tool that brings in $150 billion in revenue for the country annually, and the leaders at Wednesday’s press conference fear it will head overseas if the president doesn't start supporting the industry.
"When the president takes a swing at private jet owners and operators he also attacks thousands of hard working Kansans,” said Nichols.
"We're talking about the future of this country and whether we're going to stay in the aviation business or not and we're asking the president to support us on this effort and to stop any negative comments he may have against our industry," said Wichita Mayor, Carl Brewer.
