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Obama Gets Rail Rolling With $8B Stimulus

Prez plots $8b high-speed train network

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Feb 17, 2009 11:31 AM CST

(Newser) – America's railways are about to get a huge handout: At today's signing of the stimulus package, $8 billion will be allocated to high-speed rail. Though the money will be divvied up according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's master plan, the expansion is truly President Obama's pet project, reports Politico. "The president wanted to have a signature issue in the bill, his commitment for the future,” said Rahm Emanuel.

And signature issues were drying up; as support for school construction and modernizing the electric grid evaporated, Obama shifted his sights to the rails. But Republicans have ignored Obama’s key role, instead attacking it—and a much decried potential LA to Las Vegas line—as pork-barrel spending masterminded by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Responds Reid, “I’m glad I get the credit in Nevada, but this is Obama’s No. 1 priority.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

In this Feb. 20, 2007, file photo, the Capitol Limited Amtrak train arrives in Washington from Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, file)

President-elect Barack Obama, far right, waves from the back of a train to the waiting crowd at the Claymont Amtrak rail station as it moves through Claymont, Del., Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In this Sept. 16, 2008 file photo, then Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. arrives by Amtrak in Wilmington, Del., (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

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The time is right now for us to start thinking about high-speed rail as an alternative to air transportation connecting all these cities. - President Obama, during the campaign

And apparently the Senate majority leader has earmarked $8 billion for a rail system from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? You have got to be kidding. You have got to be kidding. - Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mi.

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

AllisonMW

Feb 23, 2009 3:01 AM CST

I agree.

AdaptAndOvercome

Feb 19, 2009 8:55 PM CST

High speed rails are a thing of the future and a way to cut back on foreign oil dependency. So I guess that's why the Republicans are crying about it. There goes their lobbying perks. High speed rails help people commute and go farther distances in shorter lengths of time and less cars and pollution on the road. Texas fought for several years for one and it finally passed. Houston, Austin, San Antonio and I'm not sure, but believe Dallas will be included in the line. Congestion on Texas roadways has gotten terrible. I look forward to this. If the Republicans had it their way, we'd still be riding horses and pulling buggies. They fight progress all along the way, until they find a way to make money off of it, that is.

Guest

Feb 17, 2009 8:33 PM CST

I think high-speed rails are a wonderful idea. Of course the Republicans don't like it because Rush told them not to.

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Barack Obama • transit • Rahm Emanuel • Harry M. Reid • railroad • economic stimulus package • Department of Transportation • Obama administration • Ray LaHood

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Obama Gets Rail Rolling With $8B Stimulus