Senate Politics Impeding Rail Safety and Reauthorization Bill

Friday, September 26, 2008

On Wednesday, the House passed by voice vote H.R. 2095, which combines the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (the latter incorporating provisions from S. 294). Yesterday, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) placed a hold on the bill, preventing an up-or-down vote in the Senate without cloture.

In a Wall Street Journal article posted yesterday afternoon, “Senator Holds Up Bill on Train Safety Device,” Sen. Coburn is quoted saying “Amtrak loses $2 billion a year subsidizing food.”

This is an absurd figure, since Amtrak’s total operating grant is under $500 million--$490 million in the FY 06 and 07 appropriations bills, and $475 million this year.
No one thinks operations generate a $2.5 billion profit that mostly goes to offsetting food losses, yet that’s what Coburn’s math implies.

While Amtrak has reduced food losses since the June 9, 2005 House hearing on this issue, it is important to remember what Amtrak Senior Vice President—Operations William L. Crosbie said in his testimony then: “Amtrak’s food and beverage service is a fundamental part of the service that we offer on board the majority of the trains that we operate on a daily basis. Its primary purpose is to enhance ticket sales and ridership, not serve as a profit center.”

It would be nice if Senators could get the facts right, especially ones who are trying to deny the Senate the chance to vote on this bill.

--Ross Capon

Posted by NARP | (1) Comments

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Comments

Ah, Senator Coburn. Here’s what I wrote to my senator:

Senator Coburn:

Please remove your hold on the Senate’s consideration of HR 1492 (a/k/a HR 2095). I shouldn’t have to remind you that 1) people are looking for transportation alternatives in the face of high liquid fuel prices and 2) that this is an *authorization*, not an *appropriation*.

As for your statement that Amtrak spends $2 billion dollars subsidizing food service ... well, please fire your transportation staffer - the company doesn’t even get a $2-billion-dollar subsidy from Congress! The operating grant (not capital investment grant) for this fiscal year was only $475 million, down $15 million from last year.

America needs more transportation options and right now, Amtrak is the only provider of intercity passenger trains - please support your constituents by removing the hold.

Thank you,

Peter Laws
Norman, Oklahoma

Comment by Peter Laws on 09/27 at 04:16 PM

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