Amtrak To Get Nearly $2 Billion In Welfare
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives defied the Bush administration on Wednesday by approving more than $1.17 billion for Amtrak next year, which could avert a threatened shutdown of the national rail system.
The surprise action in an amendment to a transportation and treasury appropriations bill was a breakthrough in congressional wrangling over Amtrak funding. Lawmakers also stripped from the bill a requirement that Amtrak end service on its most unprofitable long-distance routes.
"This sends a strong message that many in Congress believe that we need to maintain a national passenger rail system," Amtrak said in a statement.
The 34-year-old rail network boasts record ridership but has never made money and is nearly $4 billion in debt. It relies on massive government subsidies to survive.
Am I the only one who's wondering why we need a rail system that cannot, and has never, support itself from its own profits? I agree with those who say that infrastructure is vital to this country's continued economic strength, but instead of taxing people to pay for their transportation why not just let the people keep their money and pay a little more for travel fare?
Maybe that makes too much sense.
