McDonnell Proposes Investing Millions into Spaceport

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Posted: 11:15 AM Aug 14, 2009 McDonnell Proposes Investing Millions into Spaceport RICHMOND, Va. (AP) The newest destination in Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's transportation plan is out of this world. Literally.

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The newest destination in Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's transportation plan is out of this world. Literally.

McDonnell Thursday pledged a ten-fold boost in state funding for Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island off Virginia's Eastern Shore.

That would mean $1 million annually during the most austere budget year in memory in a bid to make Wallops the nation's premier commercial spaceport.

He's even proposing space tourism, so wealthy paying customers can boldly go where no vacationer has gone before.

McDonnell predicted the spaceport would earn $7 million within five years and up to $23 million by 2029.

His earthly transportation package calls for selling state-owned liquor stores, tolling expressways out of North Carolina and diverting some regional sales taxes to pay for roadbuilding.

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