(The Associated Press circulated the following on February 7.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Montana’s U.S. Senators say they’ll fight proposed cuts in funding to Amtrak and Essential Air Service.
Democratic Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester say the cuts would make travel to and from Montana a lot more difficult.
Baucus says every year, the Administration proposes drastic cuts, and every year the Montana delegation fights to get the dollars restored.
The proposed budget eliminates more than half of Essential Air Service spending, trimming it down to $50 million for fiscal year 2009. Montana has seven airports served by EAS: Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, and Wolf Point.
The president’s budge also cuts about $450 million from the Federal Railroad Administration. Baucus and Tester say that means significant cuts for Amtrak, including the Empire Builder across the Montana Hi-Line.