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As an Australian, I'd like to know when do fiscal years start and end. When is the end of the 2006 fiscal year?
A more important question: taking into account the most recent statement from the government, and assuming the following: - The GOP pick up 3 extra seats to get a working majority in the Senate; - In 2008 the GOP wins presidential election with a hard-right and anti-rail candidate; - In future budgets no money is accorded to AMTRAK;
when is the EARLIEST date, that services on Amtrak, such as a long-distance one like the Coast Starlight, would die? Would it survive for a few months before it became insolvent? Would it be early 07? late 07? early 08? or later?
zeus Member # 4268
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actually, the GOP would need to pick up 5 extra seats not 3 to get a working majoirty.
gp35 Member # 3971
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To many pro-Amtrak Republicans, Amtrak is not dying anytime in the next 6 years. If anything, the number of trains increase.
George Harris Member # 2077
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Party discipline as exists in a lot of countries with parlimentary systems does not exist in the United States. Particularly on a subject like Amtrak, congresscritters will vote the push of their lobbiests and local constituiencies regardless of party. They may try to dress up their vote in some form of party or partisan rhetoric, but it really is not.
The greatest setbacks to Amtrak have occured during democrat party administrations. Something of a "My enemies I can deal with, but Lord, protect me from my friends" situation.
Most of the strong anti-Amtrak sentiment is philosophically Libertarian, not Republican and is funded by various auto oriented lobbying agencies such as the Wendell Cox consultancy, which will at the slightest hint of an invitation will come and give an anti-passenger rail presentation against rail passenger service in any form, long distance, commuter, urban transit or whatever, complete with lots of warped but reasonable sounding statistics. One of the best examples out there of "figures don't lie, but liars figure."
George
chrisg Member # 2488
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White House backs off wholesale Amtrak budget cut
The Bush administration is backing off its push to cut all subsidies for Amtrak and plans to offer some assistance for the struggling passenger railroad in the upcoming budget, government sources say.
Administration officials declined to disclose the request ahead of its announcement on the federal budget next week. But congressional and other government sources familiar with the funding process said the proposed Amtrak figure for fiscal 2007 would total $900 million, which was the amount proposed two years ago.
Much of the money would be tightly controlled by administration transportation planners, who would release funding through grants when certain cost-saving goals or business reforms are met.
An Amtrak spokesman declined to comment as did a spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Amtrak, created by Congress 35 years ago as a for-profit corporation after private railroads gave up service, depends on an annual subsidy to survive. Its operating losses have grown to more than $1 billion over the past three years, prompting pressure from budget and transportation planners for Amtrak to eliminate unprofitable routes and change core business practices.
But Congress has long been reluctant to cut Amtrak spending because many members have constituents who benefit from train service and jobs.
While Amtrak said in 2004 that $900 million would not be enough to run the railroad, the proposal served as a starting point for negotiations that eventually produced a $1.2 billion subsidy for fiscal 2005.
Unexpected Shift
But in an unexpected shift, the White House proposed in its budget for fiscal 2006 to eliminate the annual operating subsidy -- save some commuter rail and maintenance support.
Amtrak supporters and other rail advocates accused the Transportation Department of trying to dismantle Amtrak through bankruptcy. Critics included respected railroad executive David Gunn, who was fired as Amtrak's president last fall.
Gunn said he was an obstacle to change and clashed with the board over the administration's reform agenda.
The move also shocked railroad executives and annoyed lawmakers, who dug in during budget talks and eventually approved $1.3 billion in aid for the fiscal year that began on October 1.
Nevertheless, the administration believes its zero-funding strategy created momentum for change and permits a less confrontational approach this year. "The board of Amtrak has blessed what the administration wanted," one government source said.
Congress, responding to a presidential veto threat of crucial transportation legislation late last year, approved other modifications.
Changes included steps by Amtrak to move toward deeper involvement by states in service and funding decisions, an internal review of money losing routes and possible privatization of some service.
Amtrak is also required by law to reduce its annual subsidy by saving money on food sales and first class service. It must limit discounts on peak fares. The Transportation Department controls financing for priority capital improvements that are projected to yield savings.
An administration plan to separate Amtrak from the responsibility of managing its flagship Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York and Washington -- and possibly selling it -- was criticized sharply by rail experts and some in Congress. It remains unclear if the administration will pursue that initiative again with Congress moving forward on its own rail funding and capital improvement proposals.
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