(The Associated Press circulated the following article on March 16.)
WASHINGTON — An effort in the Senate to increase federal subsidies for the beleaguered Amtrak system failed to pass Wednesday.
The amendment, offered by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., would have added $1.04 billion to government financial assistance for the system. It failed on a 52-46 vote.
The amendment was cosponsored by 23 senators, mostly Democrats. Two Republican senators from the Northeast — Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island — also voted for it.
In his 2006 budget, President Bush proposed eliminating Amtrak’s operating subsidy and setting aside $360 million to run trains along the Northeast Corridor if the railroad ceased operating. In the current budget year that ends Sept. 30, Amtrak is getting $1.2 billion in operating subsidies and capital investment.
Byrd’s amendment to the Senate fiscal year 2006 budget resolution would have brought Amtrak’s funding to $1.4 billion, when added to the $360 million.
Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black did not immediately return a telephone call for comment.