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Federal Legislation & Regulation
Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
9/7/2012
Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
Democrats call for long-term infrastructure investments
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At its national convention in Charlotte, N.C., the Democratic Party on Tuesday approved a platform that supports long-term investments in the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
While short on specifics, the platform states that long-term infrastructure investment is key to job growth.
“Roads, bridges, rail and public transit systems, airports, ports and sewers are all critical to economic growth, as they enable businesses to grow,” the document stated. “That's why President Obama and Democrats in Congress have enacted infrastructure investments that will sustain our Highway Trust Fund and provide states, U.S. territories and communities with two years of funding to build needed infrastructure.”
The platform supports funding that would go beyond the two-year, $105 billion surface transportation bill (MAP-21) enacted earlier this summer.
“The president has proposed to go substantially further, including a significant up-front investment in our infrastructure followed by sustained increases in investment paid for with part of the savings from winding down our overseas wars, together with reforms that will better leverage government dollars and target significant projects,” the platform states. “We will continue to partner with local communities to support their sustainable development.”
Unlike the Republican Party’s platform, the Democrats’ platform does not specifically mention Amtrak. Last week, at their national convention in Tampa, Fla., Republicans approved a platform calling for an end to federal funding for Amtrak and high-speed rail, and allocating more federal transportation dollars for highway projects instead of other transportation options.
The GOP platform took a particularly tough position on Amtrak, calling it an “extremely expensive railroad.” In August, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said in media interviews that his deficit-cutting plans included eliminating Amtrak’s federal subsidy.
While short on specifics, the platform states that long-term infrastructure investment is key to job growth.
“Roads, bridges, rail and public transit systems, airports, ports and sewers are all critical to economic growth, as they enable businesses to grow,” the document stated. “That's why President Obama and Democrats in Congress have enacted infrastructure investments that will sustain our Highway Trust Fund and provide states, U.S. territories and communities with two years of funding to build needed infrastructure.”
The platform supports funding that would go beyond the two-year, $105 billion surface transportation bill (MAP-21) enacted earlier this summer.
“The president has proposed to go substantially further, including a significant up-front investment in our infrastructure followed by sustained increases in investment paid for with part of the savings from winding down our overseas wars, together with reforms that will better leverage government dollars and target significant projects,” the platform states. “We will continue to partner with local communities to support their sustainable development.”
Unlike the Republican Party’s platform, the Democrats’ platform does not specifically mention Amtrak. Last week, at their national convention in Tampa, Fla., Republicans approved a platform calling for an end to federal funding for Amtrak and high-speed rail, and allocating more federal transportation dollars for highway projects instead of other transportation options.
The GOP platform took a particularly tough position on Amtrak, calling it an “extremely expensive railroad.” In August, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said in media interviews that his deficit-cutting plans included eliminating Amtrak’s federal subsidy.