(Continued from page 3)

on the floor early this week.
• I also appeared before House Appropriations to pitch HB 1144. This bill also stems from prior actions taken by the legislature. Back in 2009 and 2010, we were faced with difficult fiscal decisions. During those years, the administration targeted various funds and brought bills that would "sweep" the dollars in them in order to fund ongoing programs. One fund that was targeted was the state aeronautics fund. Over $3.5 million was taken from that fund in two separate actions. After talking with two different pilots from back home, I began to delve deeper into the law books. I learned the genesis of those dollars, that prompted me to begin working to restore the fund. It turns out that every pilot in the state--from crop-dusters to private and commercial pilots--contributes to the fund. They pay both license fees and taxes on

(Continued on page 5)