They Can Send $400 Billion To Iraq, But Cannot Fund Amtrak

[Parche]

NEWARK, N.J. -- Cuts to homeland security and Amtrak funding proposed in President Bush's budget would be devastating to New Jersey and will be opposed by the state's U.S. senators, who are now part of the new Democratic majority, Sen. Robert Menendez said Monday.

"We look forward to changing this budget," Menendez told reporters in a teleconference. Sen. Frank Lautenberg was unable to join the call, Menendez said.

"The budget, inexplicably, cuts state homeland security funds almost in half," Menendez said.

Bush's plan requests $250 million for the 50 states; the states shared $525 million in grants for the fiscal year that ends in September, according to figures provided by Menendez's office.

It was not immediately determined how much homeland security money was designated for New Jersey. Bush's plan was delivered to Congress on Monday, and state officials said they had just begun to analyze the numbers.

Amtrak would get $800 million under the president's request. The national passenger railroad got $1.3 billion in the current fiscal year.

New Jersey would be among the states hurt if Amtrak had to cut maintenance or improvements because the commuter rail service operated by NJ Transit uses tracks owned by Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor line.

Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said the current system could not operate on $800 million and that the agency would make its budget request in about a week.

Besides the $800 million subsidy, the Bush budget proposes setting aside $100 million as matching grants that the states could use for intercity passenger rail projects.
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http://www.wnbc.com/news/10936216/detail.html
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[Selatius]

1. Amtrak is a threat in that it serves as a convenient framework to introduce highspeed rail

The foundation is already there. The only question is upgrading the lines to handle bullet trains. The US could have mass transit that reduces automobile use, but the car, road, and oil lobbies throughout the last 50 years have done their work well.

[Mabus]

2. Incredible isn't it?

iirc, McCain thinks Amtrak is a pork project and treats it as such. He doesn't see the need for it because it isn't as utilized in his state. :banghead: What he doesn't want to acknowledge is that Amtrak encourages commuting. I've only used it once and it was a godsend.

[chelsea0011]

3. And even if there was no $400 billion to Iraq, they would still cut

funding to Amtrak. They hate federal transportation.

[Parche]

11. AMTRAK

We all need to contact our reps
I have 3times already to mine Rep David WU D-OR
He is awesome and always replies, as we know him personally too!!!!!

[DianaForRussFeingold]

4. K&R

Upsetting to say the least! Favorite video; Peace Train http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6bIDn0_4B0

[1620rock]

6. People on trains?...why then they wouldn't buy gasoline!!!

[grilled onions]

5. His Ideas Are Always An Oxymoron

He complains that "we" are addicted to oil and yet cuts funding every time for public transportation. It's the working class that get hit the hardest(as always). Of course if they ride the rails then he can't utilize his new plan that would charge for road usage. :mad:

[Warpy]

7. They can waste trillions of dollars on taxcuts to the rich

but they can't afford to expand Medicare to us all.

Conservatives can never be part of any solution, no matter which party they claim. Conservatives are the PROBLEM.

[PDJane]

8. Short sighted,

Simple-minded and particularly dumb in the face of oil depletion and global warming.

I have used the train to get around here for years, and love the rail system in Europe. A good train system would be far more practical and less disruptive of life in smaller communities than a continent-wide system of roads.

Just amazing, frankly.

[Red Zelda]

9. Oh, but it's OK

to fund every back-desert airport in McCainland.
Please let the Northeast secede.

[Red Zelda]

10. Amtrak's Fiscal 2006 ticket revenues were...

$1.37 billion. A record.

[MoseyWalker]

12. of course not

Amtrak provides a valuable service which otherwise some, if not MANY, would be unable to travel.

Get rid of it they say! Bring me the cake and the glitter and the stars are mine to own!

Transportation? Let'em have their feet take'em to where they want to go, and then, by god, they better stay there.

<sarcasm alert>