Senator John Ensign received $4,500 from the chairman of Southwest Airlines and the company's political action committee in May.

The Nevada Republican this week introduced a bill that would allow Southwest Airlines to expand routes out of Dallas.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the contributions came at a time when Ensign was weighing whether to get involved in legislation affecting the airline.

Ensign spokesman Jack Finn says the contributions "played no role whatsoever" in the senator's legislation, which would repeal a 26-year-old restriction on flights from Dallas Love Field.

Lifting the restriction would allow Southwest to add nonstop flights from Dallas, the company's base of operations, to all states and Puerto Rico.

This would include direct flights between Dallas and Las Vegas.

The Wright amendment was designed to protect Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the base for American Airlines.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)