The Senate rejected an amendment today offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) to stop transportation subsidies for the John Murtha Airport in Johnstown, PA.
KEY FACTS
Named the John Murtha Airport, 650-acre state-of-the-art facility in Johnstown, PA
Received $200 million in federal funds over 20 years, $150 million steered by Murtha himself, who uses the airport for campaign stops
Only 3 flights daily, to only one destination: Washington, D.C. (Dulles airport)
Averages 20 passengers daily
Received $800,000 in stimulus funds this year to repave a backup runway, even though the airport manager says there are no safety issues with the current runway
Has an $8.5 million radar system paid for by taxpayers, that remains unstaffed and unused
Airport passenger count has fallen by 50% in the past 10 years, as federal funds continue to pour in
Federal funds subsidize every flight into the airport, an average of $100 per passenger on each flight
Despite these fact, 53 Senators voted to continue the subsidies.