The lame duck session started today. Don Phillips said in one of his columns that rail re-reg might get pushed through. I have checked every news source I can find, both on the right and the left, and can find no mention of it. Oberstar had been the main sponser and he was defeated for re-election. Is re-reg dead? Anybody want to wiegh in?
George
Never say never, especially when those involved have little to lose.
It might depend on how much the freight railroads drag their feet on sharing their corridors with HSR.
Just my opinion, but considering that Congress considers itself entitled to two or three weeks off for the holidays, there is very little time left for passing legislation through both legislative branches and then going through the reconciliation process. There are a few must items to accomplish – for example dealing with the pending income tax increase – but I doubt there is much appetite for positive action on the re-reg front.
One of the more interesting things to watch in the next few weeks will be the extent to which the Blue Dogs who were involuntarily retired follow the leadership they may be blaming for their defeat.
Despite the election, South Dakota will continue to have the best looking House delegation!
I though Jay Rockefeller was the main sponsor? I see he has a picture of a railroad bridge on his website. http://rockefeller.senate.gov/
Who has more power to regulate railroads between the House and the Senate, or are they even?
Maybe so, I thought Oberstar was, but you may be right. I visited the website but saw no mention of re-reg.
George
[quote user="nanaimo73
Who has more power to regulate railroads between the House and the Senate, or are they even?
[/quote]
Dale: Not sure how the pecking order stands on that, but I’d say whatever is entered and passed by the “House”, the Senate must also come on board to pass it or not. And if there is disagreement, they would have to negotiate {thru committee}, and agree upon a compromise…But final attention then, the bill must be signed by the President. Or vetoed.
Perhaps someone with better specifics can correct me if needed.
Item: Dale, not sure that’s a RR bridge…I’m wondering if it’s not the vehicle bridge that somehow a program annually allows sky jumping off it to the river / railroad valley below…??
Yup - Quentin’s right - that’s the US Route 19 bridge over the New River Gorge, longest arch bridge in the world, from which ‘BASE’ jumping is allowed once a year. See - http://www.olddominiontours.com/Bridge%20Day.html and http://www.officialbridgeday.com/new-river-gorge-bridge
Thanks Quentin (and Paul). Yes, I remember that bridge now, CSX (ex C&O) runs way down below alongside the river.