Amtrak faces budget cuts after House vote

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.

...snip...

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.

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

How about cutting highway funding and putting it into mass transit and railroads?

Instead they punish Amtrak for being federally subsidized...like highways aren't.

Give me a barf bag. These people make me sick.

Private industries--but we'll keep them in business. The employees sacrifice, too. But the CEO's never feel any pain.

We'll subsidize the hell out of the airlines, though. It's infuriating.

Reminds me of the Tom Paxton song "I'm Gonna Change My Name to Chrysler".

I Am Changing My Name To Chrysler
by Tom Paxton

Oh, the price of gold is rising out of sight,
And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight.
What a dollar use to get us
Now won't get a head of lettuce,
No, the economic forecast isn't bright.
But amidst the clouds I spot a shining ray,
I begin to glimpse a new and better way.
I've devised a plan of action,
Worked it down to the last fraction,
And I'm going into action here today:

Cho: I am changing my name to Chrysler,
I am going down to Washington D.C.
I will tell some power broker,
"What you did for Iacocca
Would be perfectly acceptable to me."
I am changing my name to Chrysler,
I am leaving for that great receiving line.
When they hand a million grand out,
I'll be standing with my hand out,
Yes sir, I'll get mine.

When my creditors come screaming for their dough,
I'll be proud to tell them all where they can go.
They wonÕt have to yell and holler,
They'll be paid to the last dollar
Where the endless streams of money seem to flow.
I'll be glad to show them all what they must do.
ItÕs a matter of a simple form or two.
It's not just remuneration, itÕs a lib'ral education,
Makes you kind of glad that IÕm in debt to you.

Cho.

Since the first amphibian crawled out of the slime,
We've been struggling in an unrelenting climb.
We were hardly up and walking
Before money started talking,
And it's said that failure is an awful crime.
It's been that way a millenium or two;
Now it seems there is a different point of view.
If you're a corporate Titanic
And your failure is gigantic,
Down in Congress there's a safety net for you.

Linking Houston, Dallas & San Antonio. Lobbying by Southwest Airlines helped curtail the plans.

I enjoy taking Amtrak. It's much more civilized that air travel, especially in the Northeast corridor.

I'm sorry to see the funding cut; it should be increased!

Public transportation instead of private cars. Would be a good idea to reduce gasoline consumption.

Reduced gasoline consumption = lower profits. So, they cut funding for public transportation.

Also, a member of:

http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php

There's an action alert up on their website now....gotta write our congress members!!!

I took Amtrak from LA to Colorado, Salt Lake City and back through Truckee and over the original tracks with their snow tunnels all the way to Oakland. Looked out at the lake at Donner's Summit and thought about those poor souls and that awful time they were standed. There's nothing like being there to bring history into focus.

It beats the hell out of air travel when you are disabled!

I love having the freedom to move around, have different breakfast, lunch & dinner companions...I've met some very interesting people on the train. I traveled cross country 2 DC for the electoral college vote in Jan, '05; my grandmothers funeral last year. I frequently take the Coast Starlight which travels along the California coast, it is beautiful and there is a wine tasting in the afternoon in the club car. I'll travel by train any day over flying.

Amtrak is the best way for the disabled to travel.
It is roomier, easier to move about in, and less stressful than air travel by a long shot.

So of course the repugs are killing it. Why do they hate the disabled so?

I can do some work, save money, don't have the stress of stop-and-go traffic, and it is better for the environment.

I would rather have my tax money go to their support than to pay for tax breaks and welfare for oil companies, huge corporations, and the filthy rich.

for reunion. I love the train, and considering the aggravation of taking a plane these days, I'd rather take the train and enjoy the trip.

Kick and Nom, these current Republicans are destroying the infrastructure of this once great Country. Parks, Amtrack, Social Security, Unions.

Can I please get through at least one day without being reminded that we have a government by, of and for corporations? :mad:

:puke:

It's not like we need to decrease our dependence on foreign oil after all.

Uh, wait a minute...

Gas prices are up over $3.30 a gallon in CA, global warming has made it's way back in discussion circles, more people than ever are beginning to rely on public transportation and our illustriuous leaders are CUTTING funding. I swear to the goddesses they've got to be a special kind of stupid to come up with this shit!

...remember 'Bowling for Columbine'? The woman who used to live in Detroit was forced to move to a nearby town where she could afford housing? EVERY large city has forced out the lower classes due to lack of housing. Then the poor has to commute for 1-2 hrs a day to get to their minimum wage job via commuter rail.

These sick motherfucks in Washington are killing these people. Then they psyops the poor, blaming them for child neglect because no one is home taking care of the children. Then they blame the parents for childhood obesity because the parent relies on video games and TV and cheap food to keep the child entertained...but safe at home unattended.

CONGRESS will have slaves on auction blocks, next!!!

I hate them all.

With the infinite supply of oil that will flow from ANWR we'll never have to worry about conservation or mass transit.

:sarcasm:

Details at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x28200

The Emprie Builder criss-crosses the state during the evening and very early morning. That is the only long distance passenger rail we have left. There are many people who ride it along all but mostly on part of its entire Chicago to Seattle route which goes through WI, MN, ND, MT along the way.

"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."

Hypocrites

They haven't figured out a way to line their pockets so they want to destroy it...

The Repugs are destroying the infrastructure of the US and if we don't remove their power in November.......sigh....

Must be if they think we don't need public transportation more now than ever.

Is this a way to outsource another piece of transportation/ trade to another country.. Haven't we sold enough stretches of highways and sold off our ports. But on the other hand if a European co. comes in and starts replacing the relics with super express bullet trains... we just may be better off. The price and ease would be so much better than hasseling thru airports. Ever try to travel with children--getting all that crap on and off a airplane is hard to do.