PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Bush Announces Amtrak Cuts
by IMC Pittsburgh Radio Collective Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005 at 8:59 AM

Bush proposes to eliminate Amtrak's federal subsidy.

Reuters last week reported that the Presidents budget for the upcoming fiscal year will propose eliminating all subsidies for Amtrak. Bush's proposed budgets throughout his administration have consistently been less than what Amtrak said it needed in order to continue operation, with Congress later raising the amount. This is the first year that Bush's administration has proposed no subsidy whatsoever.

Financial hardships at the railroad have already affected Pittsburgh, with the elimination of the Three Rivers line last Fall cutting the positions of dozens of local Amtrak employees and reducing key service between Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York. It is not known how Bush's proposed budget would affect Amtrak, because it is likely that Congress will again raise the budget beyond Bush's proposal.

Speaking to the New York Times, an unnamed Capitol Hill aide said (quote) "Historical probabilities are that Congress will restore a fair amount of funding, regardless."

Although this would be the first time the Bush administration has proposed no operating aid, President Ronald Reagan did so in 1985, describing Amtrak as a "mobile federal money-burning machine." Crossing party lines, both Democrats and Republicans opposed his cuts.

add your comments