Aviation
Aviation has been an active theme of my work the past few years, beginning with an analysis of West Virginia’s aviation policy (2024) and then an exploration of innovative economic development opportunities and funding potentials (2025). The third in the series will move the process forward by identifying the most viable projects and ways to bring them to fruition. While looking into traditional, immediate projects (i.e., hanger and fuel needs), this work will also focus on longer-term integration of AAM (advanced air mobility) services.
This second report identifies economic development projects with the potential to help airports meet their potential. This ranges from the obvious, such as hanger construction and fuel farm support, to more future-oriented opportunities include drone and AAM technologies. In addition, it explores the myriad of financing options available beyond reliance on FAA support.
The first of the studies for the Multimodal Division of the West Virginia Department of Transportation, this study examines the commercial and general aviation airports in the state and the policies that support them. An analysis of opportunities and challenges and preliminary recommendations for ways to increase support conclude the report.
Congressional spending
The Cost of Congress
What started as a simply inquiry into how Congress used taxpayers funds to support its constitutional obligations and support partners turned into a preliminary study, funded by the Dirksen Congressional Center and presented at the Midwest Political Science Association 2015 Conference in Chicago. That spanned a more in-depth examination of 40-years of spending on the Legislative Branch by the Legislative Branch. The presentation and book illustrate Congress’s constitutional responsibilities: the spending – aka Appropriations – and revenue raising _ Ways & Means – processes, committee structures and work, how a bill becomes a law, and confirmations and treaties. In addition, they illustrate the roles and importance of the legislative partners.
Earmarks
Funding infrastructure has long been a challenge for state and local governments. For many years, Congressionally directed spending, aka earmarks, were a coveted way to bridge that gap, literally and figuratively. Earmarks were essential for the sustained livelihood of many communities as roads, bridges and other essential infrastructure kept communities connected to each other and the broader public. Officially, earmarks were discontineud by the House in 2005, which in reality meant that they were no longer reported as required (half of all earmarks were never reported dispute the law) – directed spending happened through phone, email, and otter communication exchanges. More recently, earmarks have enjoyed a comeback. but the official sanction remains.
Earmarks funded a lot more than infrastructure, including firetrucks, ambulances and local clinics, domestic abuse shelters, after-school programs, water system upgrades and towers, and many other essential needs. Overall, however, more than half of all earmarks supported defense programs, with Alaska, Hawaii and West Virginia receiving the lion’s share of those allocations.
The Increasing Use of Federal Earmarks to Fund State and Local Infrastructure
Kunz, K. 2009. The increasing use of earmarks to fund local infrastructure: A case study of Illinois municipal government. Municipal Finance Journal, 30, (3), pp. 29-51.
The Importance of Earmarks to State Coffers: An Examination of Distribution Trends over the Decade
Kunz, K. & O’Leary, S. 2012. The importance of federal earmarks to states coffers: an examination of distribution trends over the decade. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management, 4 (24), pp. 569-608.
Earmarks Fuel West Virginia Economic Development Spending
O’Leary, S. & Kunz, K. 2011. Earmarks Fuel West Virginia Economic Development Spending. Public Affairs Reporter, 27 (1), pp. 2-9.
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