House approves Amtrak funding {by veto-proof margin} (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A nearly $15 billion Amtrak bill passed the House on Wednesday as lawmakers rallied around an alternative for travelers saddled with soaring gas prices.

The bipartisan bill, which passed by a veto-proof margin of 311-104, would authorize funding for the national passenger railroad over the next five years. Some of the money would go to a program of matching grants to help states set up or expand rail service.

Besides the $14.9 billion provided for Amtrak and intercity rail, an amendment to the bill would authorize $1.5 billion for Washington's Metro transit system over the next 10 years.

The White House has threatened a veto, saying the bill doesn't hold Amtrak accountable for its spending. But similar legislation has passed the Senate, also with enough support to override a veto.

"Nothing could be more fitting to bring before the Congress today, on a day when gasoline has reached $4.05 a gallon across the United States on average," said Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, a longtime Amtrak critic who teamed up with Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, on the legislation.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/11/amtrak.congress.ap/index.html

How touching to think that Bu**sh** believes in fiscal accountability!

[jimshoes]

1. If he's so concerned about spending

perhaps he could un-gag all those gagged folks with information into that missing $23 billion in Iraq.

[stuntcat]

2. sweet

I take the train pretty far sometimes and I was worried about Amtrak being left high n dry. I wasn't paying attention to the news about it lately though!



(and by the effing way.. if you see anyone around here with a PEACE avatar using put-downs for their conversations with FELLOW DEMOCRATS then you're seeing why I (well at least one person) am afraid to even comment on anything in this forum. I was jumped on when I first came here FOR NOTHING because someone thought I was taking an opinion on nuclear power when I clearly was not.
SHEESH you spazzes need to learn to deal with each other.)

[Nihil]

7. Way to make your point ... or not?

Whilst I know who you mean and why closing off with
> SHEESH you spazzes need to learn to deal with each other.
does nothing to clear the air ...

Just saying ... :shrug:

[stuntcat]

8. yeah, just saying..

I had to vent. But honestly, I am afraid of posting here after seeing how people attack each other. And I don't mean to point out one person, fighting with people you agree with seems to be common, I was shown as soon as I signed on that I should be quiet.

[NNadir]

3. A little piece of good news.

Fifteen billion though, is way too little.

[Zachstar]

5. Amen!

[hatrack]

4. Signs of human intelligence in Congress!

Limited signs of insufficiently funded and planned intelligence, it's true, but at least they've apparently moved beyond the 30-year Puke fixation on healing all that is wrong with America by . . . defunding Amtrak.

[Zachstar]

6. I don't like Amtrak that much but we badly need it right now.

So I'm glad this happened.