U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, (D), 51st District: There ain’t a lot of issues that can bring the five of us together. There are not a lot of issues that would bring us out in public to ask for a common position. And we do come together when the future of our region is at stake, when the economic vitality of our region is at stake. We come together to fight for San Diego, and that's what we're doing here today.
The unlikely grouping was called a "bi-polar" effort by one of the lawmakers. Republicans Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa and Brian Bilbray, and Democrats Susan Davis and Bob Filner shared the same bottom line: a civilian airport at Miramar is not an option. They cited concerns about safety, traffic and cost. The group also stressed support of our military, especially in times of war.
Rep. Bob Filner: We are saying at a time when we have five different positions on the war in Iraq, but we're in the middle of a war. You don't tell our military, you don't tell our Marines, you don't tell our brave soldiers that we're taking your base. Readiness, training, preparation, support for our troops revolves around keeping Miramar as a Marine air station.
Meanwhile, a local business group, the Alliance in Support of Airport Progress in the Twenty-first Century, or ASAP 21, announced its support for Proposition A today.
