Reports are swirling that a merger deal might soon be struck between Houston-based Continental Airlines and United Airlines, with the latter as the surviving company headquartered in Chicago. 

Democratic Houston state Rep. Garnet Coleman says he is working with Houston Mayor Annise Parker, state Sen. Rodney Ellis, House Speaker Joe Straus and others to put together an incentive package should Houston find itself in a bidding war with Chicago over a merged company.

Here he discusses the long-standing relationship between Continental and Houston:

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