I think it’s deeper than that Eva. You may be correct, or partially, but if there isn’t enough profit in the shipping of coal for Mr. Buffet then why the wars over the coal terminals. Those coal trains of Mr. Buffets go on for miles utilizing thousands of pieces of equipment that all indicate there is profit, or they wouldn’t be there. As with oil it’s especially profitable my understanding in the shipping of coal to foreign lands via those sought after coal terminals.
Patti Murray is interested in her, and her husbands welfare. A typical politician. Obama makes promises, and good for him keeps some of them. Warren Buffet is wise to use somebody else’s money if he can rather than his own.
I think it’s a more political reason behind this push to get the California Legislature to move in the direction they want them to, and that’s to entrap California in obligation to the Fed IMO. More ripping of the purpose of the Constitution.
We shall see. Thanks for your response. Worthy of consideration.
The war over the coal terminal has to do with Unions and Richard Trumka, as the former head of the United Mine Workers. Trumka is an almost daily visitor to the White House and he has been working hard to organize labor behind the Western Sub Bituminous Coal industry in a kind of give and take compromise with the White House.
BNSF has admitted that they will not spend the money to add additional track that is needed for the coal terminal in Whatcom County. BNSF came right out and said that the profit margin was too tight and that they expected the federal government to pay for the rail improvements that are necessary South of Bellingham. Buffet’s RR are receiving lot’s and lot’s of help from the Obama government, profits are up tremendously. Oh, BNSF also said that they were reserving their funds to be spent on more profitable projects, like in Canada (where they will be carrying the tar sands oil to the west coast).
All the profit in shipping sub-bituminous coal is in the terminalling. Until very recently, sub-bituminous coal and pet coke were selling for a nickel a ton. The purchaser pays the terminalling and shipping costs. I don’t know who pays for the RR costs.
Patty Murray tried to switch the TIGER grants from light rail to her bill twice before, but was stopped both times by the Republicans in the HOUSE (ironically, with a lot of help from the TeaParty candidates)