Posted on 06/28/2002 7:09:20 AM PDT by Tribune7
Politics Help Amtrak Stay on Track
JONATHAN D. SALANT Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - As Amtrak President David Gunn and Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta work to complete their deal, they both know Congress is unlikely to allow the passenger trains to stop running.
There are too many employees and too many constituents affected, making lawmakers eager to intervene to keep Amtrak chugging along.
``When you live in the corridors that rely on Amtrak, it is a necessity,'' said James Thurber, director of American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies. ``When something is a necessity, it is a potent political issue.''
Though whistlestop campaigning is largely a thing of the past, the train whistle is still a welcome sound to voters in areas served by Amtrak. In a year when control of the Senate and House is at stake, lawmakers don't want to silence that sound.
``It's politically impractical,' said Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y.
In addition, the transportation unions are a powerful constituency. Since Jan. 1, 1999, the unions' political action committees have given $19.8 million to federal candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Even critics of Amtrak say it's hard to cut the railroad.
``It's very difficult to slay a dinosaur,'' said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla.
Both Congress and the administration would be involved in helping to fund Amtrak through Sept. 30 under the tentative agreement. The deal would provide an immediate $100 million loan, with Congress coming up with another $100 million later.
Gunn said the first installment would keep the trains running through mid-August, giving lawmakers until they recess for the summer to come up with the additional money, either through a loan, a loan guarantee, or an allocation.
Holding up the deal are the terms and conditions Amtrak must satisfy to get the money. ``There are some things we couldn't accept,'' Gunn said, refusing to elaborate.
One reason Amtrak is popular on Capitol Hill is its route structure.
Though strongest in the Northeast, California and the Pacific Northwest, Amtrak serves 45 states. There are trains through the states of House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ernest Hollings, D-S.C. Amtrak operates some commuter rail systems itself and lets others use its tracks and tunnels.
The railroad continues to run money-losing long-distance trains rather than incur the wrath of powerful lawmakers whose states would lose service.
``We are a creature of the political process,'' then-Amtrak President George Warrington told a House subcommittee in February.
Still, others say many of those trains are a waste of money.
``You talk about pork,'' said House Transportation Committee chairman Don Young, R-Alaska. ``This is rotten pork.''
Nevertheless, half the Senate signed letters requesting $200 million for Amtrak, and the Bush administration supports the funding withoutinsisting on overhauling the railroad first.
``The Bush administration has a very thin skin,'' said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. ``What they proposed last week was a thinly veiled attempt to kill Amtrak. They backed off. Obviously, they feel there's a constituency.''
Mineta said he wanted to see Amtrak through the fiscal crisis before pushing to overhaul the railroad.
A wonderful idea. No tieups by derailments and it would get a lot of dangerous traffic off of the Interstates.
Contrast this to the 295$ that it cost me to fly from Oakland to NY round trip!(Jet Blue)If the security at airports were put where it belonge,i.e.,on the airlines,the result would surely be a large increase in fares,and this might make train travel look more appealing economically.It would also eliminate the dangerous over-crowding of our skies,to say nothing of the long lines in the airports.When I want to travel,I do not call the airport,but the airlines.It is their responsibility as common carriers to make sure that my travel is safe.When I considered traveling to San Diego,I found that a RT airline ticket was about $120 for 1 1/2 hour flight.An Amtrak ticket was about the same price one-way,and would take about 12 hours.Not only that,but I would have to get off the train,I think in Bakersfield,and take a bus to L.A.,where I would board another train for the final leg to S.D!If we want to make Amtrak economically feasible,we are going to have to eliminate the gov't subsidy to the airlines.
The ones private industry does not want should die.
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