White House proposes $900 million Amtrak budget

U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., says it's a good starting point

The Daily Inter Lake

The Bush administration's decision to support a $900 million budget for Amtrak in fiscal 2007 is a good starting point for maintaining passenger rail service in Montana, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., said Thursday.

After a move during the last budget cycle to eliminate all funding for Amtrak, the administration has backed away from that idea and proposes to spend $900 million, the amount proposed two years ago for Amtrak.

"This is a step in the right direction," Rehberg said according to a press release. "I have continually fought to defend this critical service for Montana, and I am prepared to do so again."

Rehberg led the successful effort in Congress last year to fend off the administration's 2006 budget plan that would have eliminated the annual operating funds except for some commuter rail and maintenance-support funding.

On last year's chopping block, as usual, was Amtrak's Empire Builder that serves Montana on its Chicago to Seattle/Portland route.

From his position on the House Appropriations Committee, Rehberg pressed for funding for the Empire Builder and organized a bipartisan coalition that eventually won approval of legislation restoring full funding for Amtrak, resulting in $1.3 billion for this year.

In fiscal 2004, Amtrak accounted for more than $3.2 million in wages for the Montana economy, while direct spending by Amtrak travelers in Montana is estimated at more than $5.3 annually, Rehberg said.

Total ridership for Montana in 2005 was 142,783 passengers, an increase of 9 percent from 130,993 in 2004.

A Reuters news story Wednesday indicated much of the Amtrak money in the fiscal 2007 budget would be tightly controlled by administration transportation planners, who would release funding through grants when certain cost-saving goals or business reforms are met.

Two years ago Amtrak officials said the company couldn't operate on $900 million, but the budget proposal served as a starting point for negotiations.