Two of Oregon's most powerful Republicans touched down at the North Bend Municipal Airport on Friday morning - along with a host of local Republican legislators. They wanted to see for themselves whether the airport truly needs a jolt of $10 million in state funding.

House Speaker Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, and Rep. Wayne Scott, R-Canby, toured the airport along with Rep. Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach; Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg; and Rep. Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Creek.

While neither Scott nor Minnis said Friday whether they would back the airport legislation - known as Senate Bill 152 - for certain, they did say a final decision was days away.

"We're going to continue to evaluate it and work hard to see what we can do in negotiations with the Senate," Scott said.

Both he and Minnis said Friday's trip would prove invaluable in the decision-making process. Both showered praise on Krieger for his tenacity in bringing the bill before them.

"He's fought tirelessly for this," Scott said.

"Whether it's been accomplished or not, I can't tell you today. It has top priority," Scott said later.

Minnis seemed to be in agreement.

"I think you made a good case today," she said, speaking of presentations made by local business leaders including Bandon Dunes General Manger Hank Hickox and Airport manager Gary LeTellier.

"We certainly want to help Bandon Dunes and the local economy," Minnis said.

Sen. Joanne Verger, who carried SB152 in the Senate where it passed unanimously before moving to the House, was pleased with the attention the airport got Friday.

"I'm really delighted that the House leadership came because I really feel that once they looked at the North Bend Airport, and the rest of our area, they would see the need," Verger said during a phone interview about the Republicans' impromptu visit.

The legislature is thought to be in the last days of negotiations over the state budget. Minnis said the House is making final decisions on the allocation of revenue - one of which could possibly be to the North Bend airport.

LeTellier spoke of a huge influx in private jet traffic - estimated at more than 15 to 20 percent over last year. In addition he said, the commercial airline serving North Bend is expected to fly 20 percent more passengers than last year.

But the current terminal is beginning to burst at the seams, and is not expected to be able to accommodate growth.

"We're not serving the market," LeTellier said, referring to flights that don't have enough seats available for demand.

"That's a dilemma if you're in business to provide a service," he said. "That is not a good situation."

Hickox portrayed to lawmakers an economic picture of how a flourishing airport would not only help his business, but other area small businesses as well. Especially in a part of Oregon where timber and commercial fishing have been waylaid by government restrictions. He reminded lawmakers that 70 percent of customers who play golf at Bandon Dunes arrive from outside the Pacific Northwest.

"That's money coming into Oregon. We're not recycling Oregon money," he said.

On Friday, Scott said he wanted to set the record straight concerning reports about why his House Budget Committee did not initially include the airport funding in the budget.

Scott contends that various media outlets have attacked him in recent weeks contending he kept the airport bill hostage in a political vendetta aimed at Rep. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay. Roblan refused to kowtow to demands from House leadership to back a Republican education funding proposal.

Ever since, Republican leaders have appeared to make good on that promise by opposing the airport bill - keeping it tied up in a committee, a sign that usually signals its death.

"None of it is true," Scott said about the reports.

Instead, he said, Roblan did a poor job of conveying to House leadership how important a rejuvenated airport was to the South Coast. Scott said he never killed SB152, saying the bill was merely delayed due to technical issues and spelling changes.

"I never threatened Roblan about his decision. It's never been about the vote," Scott said, referring to the tussle the two had over appropriate funding levels for K-12 education.

In an interview Friday afternoon Roblan agreed with aspects of Scott's recollection of the events.

"I have talked to Krieger regularly and took his advice ... and let him be the lead," Roblan said, adding that he spent virtually no time talking with Scott about the airport.

Roblan said he was busy ensuring that House Democrats understood the importance of the bill. However, Roblan disagreed with Scott's memory of certain events from a few months ago.

"(Scott) said 'If you don't do this you won't have the airport,'" Roblan recalled Friday over a meeting he had with Scott and another representative about the controversy. "I'm not going to try to excite things - because I want this to happen - but I don't like to be called a liar."

The House is scheduled to vote on one airport bill Tuesday, when House Democrats would need at least four Republicans to ensure the passage of that bill. SB152 is in the House's State and Federal Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Krieger.