(The Associated Press circulated the following story on February 7.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The man who sits in the locomotive at Amtrak is blowing off some steam over President Bush’s new budget proposal.
The president and CEO of the passenger railroad, David Gunn, shot off an e-mail to all of its employees today, calling the administration’s budget proposal for Amtrak “irresponsible and a surprising disappointment.”
The budget provides no funding for Amtrak. The rail line received more than $1 billion dollars in subsidies this year.
Illinois Senator Richard Durbin says if the proposal is approved, it clearly would spell the end of the commuter railroad. But White House Budget Director Joshua Bolten says that’s not the intent. He says the administration’s made it clear from the start that it wanted Amtrak to run on a self-sustaining basis.
Gunn says the Bush White House has “no plan for Amtrak other than bankruptcy.” But he makes it clear the budget proposal isn’t final. In his e-mail, he tells workers to “stay safe out there, and keep your heads up. “