Rep. Costello prepares for takeoff

Posted by Christi Parsons at 4:15 p.m. CST

U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello is a big fan of expanding O’Hare International Airport. He’s not fond of proposals to privatize Midway Airport on Chicago’s South Side, and, on the question of a potential third airport in the far south suburbs, he’s keeping his powder dry.

Who cares what a guy from the metro area east of St. Louis thinks about aviation in Chicago and the suburbs?

Lots of people care, now that the veteran congressman is likely to become chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee when Democrats take over the House in January.

It’s a position of power from which Costello will be able to weigh in on crucial issues facing air travel nationwide -- and he plans to be aggressive with the administration in his new job.

“I intend to ask tough questions and make certain people are doing their jobs,” said Costello, an investigator and deputy sheriff before joining Congress in 1988. “It is our responsibility in Congress to ask the tough questions and provide oversight. The administration has been able to do what they want.”

Two things on his mind are airport security practices and maintenance of aircraft by the airlines.

“Some things can be done better by the private sector than by government,” said Costello, whose political and personal roots run deep in the union-friendly Metro East area. “But we shouldn’t go to the lowest bidder to screen passengers or do maintenance.”

While Costello is thinking about national aviation issues, he also has a unique Illinois focus. He said he wants to see O’Hare get bigger and better -- and also upgrade equipment such as the kind used to prevent runway collisions.

On recent talks about privatizing Midway, Costello says he’s “not necessarily opposed” but that he has concerns.

“How do we protect the public’s interest?” he asked. “If we privatize a particular airport, we have to make sure that the private company, which is in this for profit, doesn’t take the profit out in the first twenty years, end up filing bankruptcy and then walk away.”

For years, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. – Costello’s fellow Illinois Democrat – has been trying to get a third airport up and running in the south suburbs. Along with other political figures, Mayor Richard Daley and the major airlines at O’Hare and Midway have fought to development of a third airport.

Also, Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) has been at odds with Jackson over the governance of the proposed airfield.

Costello said he plans to take his cues from fellow members of Congress from Illinois.

“That is a delegation-wide issue,” Costello said. “I have an open mind about where we are, and I will seek the advice and input of the delegation.”