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Eugene

(61,592 posts)
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 08:08 PM Feb 2020

Trump budget proposal slashes Amtrak funding while boosting highway spending

Source: Reuters

Trump budget proposal slashes Amtrak funding while boosting highway spending

David Shepardson, Reuters Feb 10, 2020, 12:09 PM

The White House budget released on Monday proposed cutting funding for passenger rail carrier Amtrak, while calling for a significant boost in infrastructure spending.

The proposal would cut Amtrak funds by more than 50% over 2020 levels. It could cut funds to the congested northeast corridor from $700 million to $325 million and cut long-distance train funds from $1.3 billion to $611 million and then phase out support for long-distance trains.

Trump has proposed similar cuts in prior budgets and been rejected, and Democrats are not likely to go along. Trump has sparred with Democratic lawmakers over a $13 billion infrastructure project to build and repair tunnels and bridges in the New York City area known as "Gateway."

In November, Amtrak said for the year ended Sept. 30, it had set records for ridership, revenue, and financial performance, including 32.5 million customer trips, a year-over-year increase of 800,000 passengers.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-budget-slashes-amtrak-funding-while-boosting-highway-spending-2020-2

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Trump budget proposal slashes Amtrak funding while boosting highway spending (Original Post) Eugene Feb 2020 OP
GOP hates public transportation and I really don't understand why. The Velveteen Ocelot Feb 2020 #1
Because it works and he prefers the notion that nothing the government does can work. LastDemocratInSC Feb 2020 #6
Taking care of the oil companies. redstatebluegirl Feb 2020 #2
Trains use oil, too; lots of it. I don't think it's that. The Velveteen Ocelot Feb 2020 #4
Public transit tend to use fuel more efficiently. Eugene Feb 2020 #8
I love trains, sometimes it is just a pain to drive and worse to take a plane unless you need to katmondoo Feb 2020 #3
Kick lunasun Feb 2020 #5
Read Blood for Oil. Freedomofspeech Feb 2020 #7
Infrastructure, yeah right Vogon_Glory Feb 2020 #9

LastDemocratInSC

(3,625 posts)
6. Because it works and he prefers the notion that nothing the government does can work.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 08:29 PM
Feb 2020

So, he makes sure that working things fail to prove his point.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,267 posts)
4. Trains use oil, too; lots of it. I don't think it's that.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 08:19 PM
Feb 2020

I think it's that the GOP hates anything that's "public" in any way.

Eugene

(61,592 posts)
8. Public transit tend to use fuel more efficiently.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 11:09 PM
Feb 2020

The Koch network is trying to kill public transit efforts across the country. Long before that, Big Oil was part of the 1950's streetcar conspiracy.

Oh yes, conservatives also hate the "public" part about it, but they also public transit users as parasites.

katmondoo

(6,454 posts)
3. I love trains, sometimes it is just a pain to drive and worse to take a plane unless you need to
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 08:15 PM
Feb 2020

get somewhere quickly and don't mind the abuse you have to face.

Freedomofspeech

(4,218 posts)
7. Read Blood for Oil.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 09:20 PM
Feb 2020

Back in the early 1900's, the Fords and the Firestones lobbied against public transportation so they could sell cars and tires. Money, money, money....nothing changes in this country.

Vogon_Glory

(9,084 posts)
9. Infrastructure, yeah right
Wed Feb 12, 2020, 02:07 PM
Feb 2020

Present-day Republicans' ideas of infrastructure begins with (maybe) adequate runway space for larger commercial and private airports and (definitely) landing pads for their billionaire campaign donors.

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