Heres the copy I wrote before the editors at the paper changed it...
"America Needs Nationwide Rail"
Amtraks budget is down to the wire again. Will the 25 million Americans that rely on Amtrak have that choice after September? Not if President Bush has his way. The President has made is clear that nationwide rail is not something we as Americans can afford in our country while at the same time budgeting 471 million dollars for rail service in Iraq. Bush's proposals to "reform" Amtrak are nothing more then a way to bankrupt the carrier. What Bush doesn't understand is Amtrak was formed as mass transit due to the the lack of profit making ability by the freight railroads. Amtrak may have problems but in 2004 posted a record number of riders. In a post 9/11 world having anything less then nationwide rail service for our people is nothing less then short minded.
