The Republicans Who Like Talking About Ohio but Not How Much Money They Received From Rail Companies
Prem Thakker
/February 28, 2023/1:50 p.m. ET
Quite a few Republican lawmakers who are suddenly vocal about the disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, received a lot of money from the rail industry.
Since the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, Republicans have continued their campaign of pretending to care about working people, environmental damage, infrastructure, and community welfare generally. But a select group of themMarco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Ron Johnsonhave consistently raked in cash from the top four American railroad companies. Since the 2016 cycle, these four Republicans alone have collected at least $472,000 from rail giants BNSF, CSX, Union Pacific, and Norfolk Southern.
The rail companies have contributed to other Republicans of course, and to Democrats as well. But Senators Rubio, Cruz, Johnson, and Hawley have gone above and beyond in pretending to care about rail workers and the people of East Palestine.
Rubio, Hawley, and Cruz were among a handful of Republicans last December who signed on to Bernie Sanders bill that would have added seven days of paid sick leave to the rail workers contract. The bill fell short, which may explain the famously anti-labor Republican senators willingness to support it.
Since the East Palestine train derailment, Rubio has spent a significant amount of time calling for Pete Buttiegiegs resignation. But since 2016, Rubio himself received at least $54,500 from the big four rail giants, while his PAC has received at least $107,000.
More:
https://newrepublic.com/post/170812/republicans-like-talking-ohio-not-much-money-received-rail-companies