GOP controlled congress strikes again, more cuts for Amtrak

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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Amtrak faces budget cuts after House vote

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060526/ap_on_go_co/congress_amtrak_5

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer Fri May 26, 6:23 AM ET

WASHINGTON - The troubled Amtrak passenger railroad would see its federal subsidy cut to what one lawmaker termed “a shutdown number” under a bill advancing in the House. But that one-third cut is actually an improvement over a bill approved last year by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, which would have slashed Amtrak’s budget by more than half and shut down 18 routes. Amtrak’s allies in the full House reversed those cuts on the floor.

The panel approved the latest measure, for the budget year starting Oct. 1, by voice vote.

The total matches President Bush’s $900 million request for Amtrak, down from a budget of $1.3 billion this year. That figure is virtually certain to rise either on the House floor or after negotiations with the Senate, which won’t begin work on a companion bill until after Congress’ Memorial Day recess.

Amtrak runs trains through almost every state, which gives it great support among lawmakers despite criticism from the Bush administration and some lawmakers for excessive subsidies on its cross-country trains, high labor costs and questionable management practices.

Last year, Bush proposed eliminating Amtrak’s operating subsidy altogether, setting aside funds for the Northeast Corridor and for some capital improvements. But after its plan was rejected, the White House regrouped and proposed $900 million for the railroad this February.

“That is a shutdown number,” said Rep. John Olver (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass.

Panel Chairman Joe Knollenberg, R-Mich., whose tough plans for Amtrak were rebuffed last year by other lawmakers, including many East Coast Republicans, acknowledged as much: “Obviously, we’re going to have to find an increase in funding down the way.”

Under Kno

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…It simply is no surprise anymore of the data listed in above post…Too bad we can’t come to some kind of agreement as to really what to do about our Passenger rail transportation effort in this country.

Either we develop a system that works, and works to really get the job done or we just say America will no longer have rail transportation for passengers. Limit what money we spend on rail to giving it to some foreign country. Seems we do that rather well.

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That is part of the problem, we give more money away to foreign governments in one day that we put into Amtrak in a whole month.

It is once again time to write your congresspeople and voice your support of Amtrak. This nickle and dime funding is a joke.

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Once gas gets to 100$ per gallon then people will want Amtrak

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I agree. I think we should stop funding the UN, the Sudan, Iraq, Afgahnistan, Taiwan, and all of these other countries and give that money to Amtrak. After all, what’s more important: Paying the UN dues or having a passenger railroad to appease those with an accute attack of nostalgia? (Personally I think both options suck a whole lot of air)

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Instead of the same lame ole GOP and Democrates, we need a new Teddy or Ike-like progressive government that will do for railroads what they did for the Panama Canal and the Interstate system. It’s that simple.

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well lets see ridership is up and they want to cut funding.a commuter caught in the mess said on the morning news"derailments power outages stuff like that were used to it" something has got to change.
stay safe
Joe

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One way to make a contribution.Check out the map of the U.S. Pretty pathetic in a third world sort of way.
http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php

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WE need to Vote all these Congress people out in Nov.5 and get all new People in D.C. and A new Bill for Amtrak Back in 1998 Congress was going to give 2 cent of are gas taxes to Amtrak. What happen to that idea? Amtrak should get 3 to 5 cent of gas taxes instead going Waste in D.C. give it amtrak. We help out Airlines and Highways 14 Billion and 35 Billion for Highways, But we can’t find 1Billion Dollars for Amtrak every year. There something Wrong in D.C.[2c]

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Now I know that “GOP” wasn’t in the Associated Press headline, was it? The REAL headline with that story is: “Amtrak faces budget cuts after House vote.”

Anyway, thank God the Democrats have always properly funded Amtrak!

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Folks I have been hearing that there is a bill in the Senate that would significantly incrase the Funding.

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Don’t get me wrong, I think this should be allowed in the first place. But, how this could not be a politically motivated title is beyond me.

It seems to me . . . never mind, I will not speak my mind. Those who know know what I am going to say anyway.

Gabe

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Maybe the GOP guys are doing what their constituents want them to do.

It’s past time we euthanized the thing, anyhow.

Old Timer

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Old Timer,

While I agree with your position, I have every confidence the GOP will foul up and fund the thing again.

Mac

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I hope Amtrak can hold on until GOP get their butts kick out of office.

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Go ahead and use the GOP as a punching bag, kids, if it make you feel better. But let’s be fair – intelligent people know Amtrak wasn’t properly funded by any Democrat-led Congress, either. If it had been funded properly for any four-year period since 1971, it wouldn’t be in the trouble it is today.

You could look it up.

I also find it funny how many posters here talk about the media having a bias – then, when they get a chance to write a headline themselves, what do they do? Yep.

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Where’s the map, wally? I don’t see a link to that map after the link you provided downloads.

motor

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Amtrak wasn’t in serious trouble as it is now, why because of the GOP.

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Please share with us the facts you used to make this broad, sweeping statement.

If they ever get in power again, the Democrats will surely turn this country around – IF they can come up with some sort of plan, beyond the current strategy of blaming the GOP for everything.

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Again the above post I wrote Please People go to your Polls and Vote everyone Out on Nov.5 get New Faces in D.C.