(The following article by David Jesse was posted on the Port Huron Times Herald website on August 14.)
PORT HURON, Mich. — State funding for Amtrak’s two Michigan lines is safe for at least a few months.
A recent supplemental spending bill for this year’s state budget passed by the Senate contained a provision that would have required the state to pay bus companies the same subsidy, $7.1 million, as it pays Amtrak.
That amendment was ruled “unenforceable” by the state budget office, its spokesman, Greg Bird, said Friday.
“After our review of the language, it is not enforceable according to state law,” Bird said. “It places a condition on spending that’s already occurred.”
State officials had said that if the language was enforced, it could have been the death knell for Amtrak’s two Michigan lines: the Blue Water Line, which runs from Port Huron to Chicago, and the Pere Marquette, which runs from Grand Rapids to Chicago. The state budget did not have room for both a train and bus subsidy.
“I’m happy to hear the governor’s office decided it was unenforceable,” said state Rep. Lauren Hager, R-Port Huron Township. “But really, it’s only the continuation of the battle to keep Amtrak financially viable.”
The supplemental spending bill covered only the 2004 budget, which runs out Sept. 30. But Hager said the Senate bill wasn’t about bus funding at all; it likely was a move toward abolishing the Amtrak subsidy.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposed 2005 budget would continue the $7.1 million subsidy for Amtrak, Bird said.
Mary House, 41, rides the train regularly. She’s glad it’s staying.
“We need to make sure to keep it,” she said. “It’s great transportation for a lot of people.”
Amtrak has said if it doesn’t get the subsidy, it would have to cancel the service.
Hager said he will continue to fight for the funding.
“The saga continues whereby we have to be dealing with the (2005) budget. We’re going to work hard and keep this going.”