(The following story by Gary Martin was published in the January 17 issue of the San Antionio Express-News.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A handful of Senate Republicans bucked GOP leadership and joined a bipartisan amendment that would restore $1.2 billion in Amtrak funding and save roughly 200 jobs in Texas and preserve two routes through San Antonio.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, was one of four Republican senators who backed the amendment written by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee for transportation.
“Passage of this amendment provides stability for Amtrak and security to the millions of Amtrak riders and commuter rail passengers across the country who depend on its services,’’ Murray said.
The amendment, which passed on a voice vote, was part of a massive $390 billion spending bill for fiscal year 2003, which began Oct. 1. The Senate continued debate on the bill today.
Upon passage of the bill, differences must be ironed out in a House-Senate conference committee before it is sent to the White House for the president’s signature or veto.
Bush has pressed Congress to hold the line on spending, but Democrats and Republicans have protested proposed cuts by GOP leaders to programs for education, aid to farmers and homeland security.
Republican leaders stripped $374 million in Amtrak funding, despite warnings from David Gunn, the railroad carrier’s president, that anything less than $1.2 billion would force a cut in routes and lead to bankruptcy.
“Restoring funding to Amtrak is the right thing to do while we continue to debate the larger issues regarding the company’s future,’’ Murray said.
Republicans who joined Murray were Hutchison, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine and Sen. Lincoln Chaffee, R-R.I.
Murray thanked the Republican lawmakers “for having the courage to join me in ensuring Amtrak’s continued viability.”
San Antonio is served by the Texas Eagle, which runs from the Alamo City to Chicago, and the Sunset Limited, which travels between California and Florida.
Amtrak served 45,293 passengers who boarded trains in San Antonio in fiscal 2001, the last year for which figures are currently available.
In Texas, Amtrak employs more than 200 workers at an annual payroll of $11.7 million, a company spokeswoman said.