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U.S. House Tries Tinkering With Amtrak Food Service, Routes

11 Jun 2014 7:23 PM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)


From Politico, published today (June 11):

Amtrak changes: The House voted for several restrictions on Amtrak funds, but rejected another. Members approved a change from Pete Sessions to block funds for the route that loses the most money undefined the Sunset Limited that runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles. Another amendment from Reps. Phil Gingrey and John Mica to stop federal subsidies for Amtrak’s money-losing food and beverage service was approved on a voice vote. But on a 167-250 tally, members voted down another proposal from Sessions to eliminate money for any Amtrak route that costs twice what it takes in, which the Texas congressman framed it as a matter of eliminating money-losing routes from the passenger railroad.

Article from The Blaze, a conservative/libertarian perspective publication:

http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2014/06/11/the-future-of-amtrak-bring-your-own-lunch/

Silly, silly, silly. 

It's doubly frustrating for many of us that Florida Congressman John Mica (SunRail's champion) is involved in these proposed cuts.

Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail in the Senate.

--Jackson McQuigg


Comments

  • 22 Jun 2014 7:26 PM | Anonymous
    I put up with a lot of this garbage that the libertarians spewed out while i was in California. They are very creative at making some of the most politically perverted laws that it makes it hard for anybody to understand their logic. In 1992, they FALSELY claimed that extending use of gas tax funds that were appropriated for state rail projects would raise taxes in Proposition 156. The proposition was nothing more than a small amendment to add language to the allowance of that portion of designated gas tax funding, which was for tracks, signalling, and stations, to have rolling stock be included. Even conservative newspapers like the L.A. Daily News correctly pointed out that there would be NO effect on taxes and also published a letter I sent to the editor in support of extension of the use of those taxes for the rolling stock. Unfortunately voters fell for their lie, and is the result why their is a lack of rolling stock available to expand train services. Apparently, building more rolling stock must be a thing that libertarians fear the most as there will be an increased frequency of train service to water down all of their false claims that nobody rides trains.
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