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>> JOINING US NOW AT THE C-SPAN TABLE
REPRESENTATIVE, JOHN MICA REPUBLICAN OF FLORIDA,
REPRESENTING FLORIDA'S THIRD DISTRICT IS HERE TO
TALK TO US ABOUT THE HOUSE DEBATES TODAY ON THE
AMTRACK REAUTHORIZATION BILL.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, SIR.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
>> THE BILL INCREASE AMTRAK'S OPERATIONAL
AMOUNT BY ALMOST HALF A BILLION DOLLARS AND
ASSIGNS 1.7 BILLION IN GRANTS TO STATES AND
AMTRAK TO DEVELOP HIGH SPEED RAIL.
IS THIS MONEY WELL SPENT IN YOUR OPINION?
>> WELL IT'S IRONIC WE ARE HERE THIS
MORNING AND THIS WEEKEND GAS REACHED $4 A GALLON.
PEOPLE ARE SCAMPERING ACCORDING TO NEWS ACCOUNTS
FOR FINDING SOME COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO GET
AROUND THEIR COMMUNITIES, TO WORK.
AMTRAK IS SORT OF CHUG ALONG.
I HAVE NOT BEEN ONE OF ITS FONDEST SUPPORTERS.
I'VE BEEN A PRETTY HARSH CRITIC.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY EXCITING DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS HAVE COME TOGETHER.
AND WE'VE GOT A PROPOSAL TO BRING HIGH-SPEED RAIL
FORWARD AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE ROUTES THEY'VE HAD
PROBLEMS.
SOME PRETTY COSTLY ROUTES OUT THERE.
LOOK AT BRINGING IN SOME PRIVATE SECTOR INNOVATION
TO HOPEFULLY BRING THE COST DOWN TO THE TAXPAYER.
PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE, BOTH HIGH SPEED LONG
DISTANCE AND INNER CITY.
>> IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUPPORT WITH AMTRAK'S
REAUTHORIZATION THAT IT'S PERCEIVED TO BE JUST
SERVICING THE NORTHEAST QUARTER.
THE RUN BETWEEN BOSTON -- >> THAT IS NOT REALLY IT.
I'VE LOST EVERY VOTE I THINK IN 16 YEARS ON
TRYING TO GET ATTENTION AND REFORMS ON AMTRAK.
IT'S NOT JUST THE NORTHEAST QUARTER.
WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GET THE NORTHEAST QUARTER THAT
DOES HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SERVICE AND IS DEPENDENT
ON AMTRAK THAT HAD THE SELL OF OTHER SERVICES.
THEN YOU GET THE REST OF THE COUNTRY OUT IN THE
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, THAT MAYBE GOT ONE OR TWO
AMTRACK TRAINS A DAY.
IT'S THEIR LIFELINE TO CIVILIZATION.
SO YOU GET THAT COALITION TOGETHER AND ANYTIME YOU
TRY TO CUT AMTRACK'S FUNDS OR MAKE SOME CHANGES IT'S
BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
SO THIS TIME INSTEAD OF SAYING YOU KNOW JUST
SAYING NO TO AMTRACK OR SLASHING THEIR BUDGET, I
THINK WE GOT SOME POSITIVE PROPOSALS TO BRING IN SOME
PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITY IN TRANSPORTATION IN HERE AND
PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE AND A PRETTY GOOD COMPROMISE.
IT DOES REQUIRE MORE MONEY IN THE POT, BUT AGAIN IT'S
REALLY NEGLIGEABLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TODAY.
THE WHOLE IS 14 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT.
I WAS UP IN NEW YORK LAST WEEKEND.
I WAS IN A TUNNEL THAT THEY ARE DIGGING AND
BORING FROM THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD DOWN TO
GRAND CENTRAL STATION.
JUST THAT ONE TUNNEL IS 7.2 BILLION DOLLARS, TO
GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
WE JUST APPROVED THAT YEAR JUST BEYOND THE STUDIO
HERE, THE EXTENSION OF THE LIGHT-RAIL OUT TO DULUS,
THAT IS 21 MILES.
THAT IS OVER 5 BILLION DOLLARS THAT ONE ROUTE.
SO 14 BILLION NATION WIDE FOR HIGH SPEED SERVICE FOR
LONG DISTANCE SERVICE.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR REFORM AND
THE BILL HAS A NUMBER OF REFORMS,
THEY'RE LONG OVER DUE.
>> CREATED BY CONGRESS IN 1933 AS PART
OF THE NEW DEAL, TBA BUILT DAMS FOR FLOOD CONTROL
NAVIGATION AND HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWED THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEN ISOLATED
TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY.
THE COAL FIRE PLANTS FOLLOWED IN THE 50S.