Hotline
Your weekly source of fresh takes on news affecting America's passengers. See also the RPA Blog.
Hotline #673-A
June 19, 1991
Despite debate extending over several days, the Senate still has not voted on Senator Moynihan's surface transportation bill, S.1204. However, the nucleus of the bill -- the flexibility and level-playing-field provisions -- still survives. Right now, the Senate is hearing debates on two amendments from Senator Graham (D.-Fla.). If the two amendments are tabled, we fully expect the full Senate to approve the Moynihan bill at some point after 7:35 pm. Because we expect the bill to pass, we will n
Hotline #673
June 14, 1991
Despite debate extending past midnight, the Senate still has not voted on Senator Moynihan's (D.-N.Y.) surface transportation bill, S.1204. However, the nucleus of the bill -- the flexibility and level-playing-field provisions -- still survives. Earlier this week, the Moynihan bill was challenged by a coalition of donor-state Senators led by Senator Warner (R.-Va.). Their bill contained none of the flexibility language and would have been very harmful. While that issue has not yet been resol
Hotline #672-B
June 13, 1991
Debate continues on S.1204, the Moynihan surface transportation bill, with a final vote expected for this evening. The great showdown has been between Senator Moynihan (D.-N.Y.) himself, whose bill does the most in terms of including passenger rail as an eligible trust fund program and a level playing field across all modes, and Senator Warner (R.-Va.), who is leading a coalition of Senators from Highway Trust Fund "donor states," which pay more in gas taxes than they get back in federal highway
Hotline #672-A
June 12, 1991
Debate began yesterday morning and still continues on S.1204, the Moynihan surface transportation bill. The great showdown has been between Senator Moynihan (D.-N.Y.) himself, whose bill does the most in terms of including passenger rail as an eligible trust fund program and a level playing field across all modes, and Senator Warner (R.-Va.), who is leading a coalition of Senators from Highway Trust Fund "donor states," which pay more in gas taxes than they get back in federal highway money. Th
Hotline #672
June 7, 1991
Through a technical procedure, the number of the Moynihan surface transportation bill is not S.965. It is now S.1204. It was discussed briefly on the Senate floor yesterday, but further action is postponed until the morning of June 11. The Moynihan bill is still upsetting Senators from the Highway Trust Fund "donor states." They would like to scrap the Moynihan bill and replace it with a bill of their own that resembles the Administration bill. That would be very bad. It is possible that a compr
Hotline #671
May 31, 1991
It looks like S.965, the Senate surface transportation bill, will be voted on by the full Senate the week of June 10. Despite the good results of the May 22 mark-up, pro-rail language is still not entirely out of danger. Senator Warner (R.-Va.) has threatened a floor fight because the bill doesn't help Highway Trust Fund "donor states" such as Virginia. Of course, the Administration is still opposed because it includes no expanded highway system, as their bill did. Transportation Secretary Skinn
Hotline #670
May 24, 1991
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee marked up S.965, the Moynihan surface transportation bill, on May 22, and reported it to the full Senate. The results were very good. The rail language was changed from just the word "rail" to "passenger rail," so it still includes Amtrak. However, the part allowing operating funding to come from the Highway Trust Fund was dropped, so now it is only capital money, but that is still very good. The bill still ignores the Administration's call fo
Hotline #669
May 17, 1991
Committee mark-up of S.965, the Senate version of the surface transportation bill, was delayed until May 22. In the meantime, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held hearings on May 13 and 14, at the request of many parties, including the Administration, who didn't like S.965. NARP still likes the bill and is working to see that the positive, pro-rail language put in by Senator Moynihan (D.-N.Y.) remains. It is very possible, however, that the rail language will be taken out, or a
Hotline #668
May 10, 1991
There is still great danger that the pro-Amtrak language in S.965, Senator Moynihan's (D.-N.Y.) surface transportation bill, may be dropped. That language, which would give intercity passenger and freight rail access to the Highway Trust Fund for the first time ever, has come under attack from the trucking industry and state highway officials. There is danger that an amendment will be offered limiting the rail language to commuter rail and maglev only. That would be a great tragedy. Contact your
Hotline #667
May 3, 1991
Amtrak President Graham Claytor addressed a luncheon of the National Press Club on May 1, on the occasion of Amtrak's 20th anniversary. He outlined where Amtrak has been and where it's going, and named NARP as one of the parties that helped get Amtrak through its political crises in the 1980's. Claytor's remarks were broadcast in full on many public radio stations and may be seen at 6:00 pm Eastern time tomorrow on the C-SPAN One cable television channel. Also, the May Passenger Train Journal an