Bush Budget Aims to Close All Amtrak Rail Services

The Bush budget for 2006 proposes ending federal support of Amtrak, which will force the rail service into bankruptcy and likely cause the demise of national rail transportation.

This idea would push more riders into gas-guzzling cars and planes. It would also leave millions without transportation and 25,000 Amtrak employees without jobs.

On NBC's "Meet the Press" last Sunday, Senator Joseph Biden (D-NJ) called it "absolutely bizarre." And when pressed by interviewer Tim Russert, Bush-supporter Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) admitted "It's not acceptable to me, either."

Amtrak had an all-time high of 24 million riders last year on its 22,000-mile route system. And it's more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly than planes or cars.

Why, then, would George Bush want to pull the plug on Amtrak? Some claim that his administration has sold the railroads out to the "oil interests, airlines interests and automotive interests."

Be sure to read my article on the stunning details of Bush's plan to eliminate Amtrak. He has replacement plans, but you may not like them.