But How Will He Feed The Dog?
by ChrisMarch 28th, 2005 12:28 pm
From Roll Call Via DSCC and Susan:
Erasing any doubts that they will wage a protracted, scorched-earth campaign to win a Senate seat in Pennsylvania, Democrats and their allies wasted little time last week highlighting what they see as Sen. Rick Santorum’s (R) hypocrisy on the issue of Amtrak funding.
A group of union leaders fired off a letter to Santorum accusing the Republican of flip-flopping and ignoring the needs of his state by recently voting against restoring more than $1 billion in funding for the national passenger railroad corporation in next year’s budget.
Sensing the potential volatility of the issue, the Senator penned an opinion column in Friday’s Philadelphia Inquirer expressing his support for Amtrak funding.
The March 23 letter was signed by 10 national and local labor leaders, most of whom represent transportation trades.
“Simply put, an Amtrak bankruptcy would be a disaster for Pennsylvania, and your vote brings us a step closer to that,� the leaders wrote.
The letter was in response to Santorum’s vote a week earlier against an amendment that sought to restore $1 billion in operating subsidies to Amtrak. The measure, introduced by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), failed by a vote of 52-46.
President Bush proposed in his fiscal 2007 budget that Amtrak’s federal funding be eliminated and that the rail line be placed in bankruptcy as a prelude to restructuring.
…
Amtrak service is an essential part of the state’s economy and transportation system. Philadelphia is Amtrak’s third-busiest station and the company employs more than 3,000 workers in the state. Additionally, eight commuter railroads operate on Amtrak-owned or operated tracks in the Northeast Corridor.
Rick Santorum - Soon to the head of one of any number of right wing think tanks. Don’t be sad Rick - I hear the pay is excelent.
