Hotline #71-A - February 3, 1999

President Clinton's budget for fiscal 2000 is right on target with the $571 million that Amtrak requested and that the Administration promised in Hill testimony a year ago. However, general funds for high-speed rail would be cut sharply -- from $20.5 million to $12 million. In addition, President Clinton proposed giving high-speed rail $35 million in excess gasoline-tax revenues. We support this, but it will be tough to get because it requires changing the TEA-21 law, under which highways get all such excess gas-tax revenues.