LINCOLN- A bipartisan trio of Nebraska lawmakers, including state Sens. Eliot Bostar and Lou Ann Linehan and U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, traveled around the state today in an attempt to find support for an amendment to the Nebraska constitution.

Amendment 1, which seeks to allow cities and counties to spend public funds to expand commercial flights, will be voted upon this November. Sen. Bostar stated that the change would initially affect nine airports in the state, allowing governing boards to guarantee a minimum amount of revenue to incent airlines to bring in new commercial services.

Sen. Bostar believes Nebraska has been falling behind other states when it comes to commercial flights, and that it's in the state's interest to 'level the playing field.' "This is a common-sense solution," said the Senator, "It affects the quality of life in a region."

The proposed amendment drew almost no criticism earlier this year when it was proposed during a public hearing held by the Legislature's Revenue Committee. It advanced very swiftly, passing unanimously before landing a spot on November's ballot.

Last week, the trio stopped in Scottsbluff, North Platte, Grand Island, Kearney, Norfolk, and Omaha for media appearances. At each of these locations, the lawmakers drew in several local supporters.

Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, believes the amendment will increase opportunity for Nebraska communities. "The potential impact is monumental," said Slone, "It's hard to know how we will continue to attract and retain exactly those people who drive our economy, those jobs and those companies, without having competitive commercial air service."

Sen. Linehan compared air travel today to what roads were to communities in the early to mid-1900s. "This is infrastructure," said the Senator, "We take care of roads, we take care of bridges...If you don't have airports, if you don't have air travel, you are not going to be able to grow."

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