Quick Action: Contact Rules Committee For SUPERTRAINS

by: Chris Bowers

Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:40

Things are moving fast on the stimulus bill, but a short window has opened where we can make a difference on rail and mass transit funding in the stimulus. Here is the situation:

As reported by WI Dem in Quick Hits, several House members are submitting amendments to increase rail funding to the stimulus package:
The amendment would distribute $1.5 billion for the Transit Capital Assistance Program and $1.5 billion for Capital Assistance Grants, known as the New Starts Program.

The bill is introduced by Representative Nadler, and can be read here. There are other amendments introduced by Representatives C. Brown and Hare, that would increase rail funding by $3.9 billion and $500 million respectively. Any and all amendments to increase rail funding would be great.
These amendments must be approved by the House Rules Committee today in order to be considered on the floor tomorrow. The Rules Committee will be meeting at 3:30 p.m. eastern to consider amendments to the stimulus bill.

This gives us two hours to make our voice heard for more rail funding in the stimulus bill. To do so, please contact the Rules Committee. Politely state your support for the Nadler, Brown and Hare amendments for increased rail funding. Ask the committee to approve these amendments for a floor vote tomorrow.

Their phone number is 202-225-9091.

This is a very short window, as the situation is fluid and happening fast. However, this also means we can make a difference. Please call now, and let the Rules Committee hear your support for the Nadler, Brown and Hare amendments to increase rail and mass transit funding.

Update: Lots of calls coming in. The committee is noticing! Commenter lord_mike writes after taking action:

Staffer said "We've been getting calls on that."

Commenter art3 writes:

called them and they have gotten many calls on this.

Also, if you live in a congressional district for a Democratic member of the Rules Committee, contact their office directly, and make the same ask listed above:

Chair Louise Slaughter, New York 28th
(202) 225-3615

Rep. Michael Arcuri, New York 24th
(202) 225-366

Rep. Chellie Pingree, Maine 1st
(202) 225-6116

Rep. James McGovern, Massachusetts 3rd
(202) 225-6101

Rep. Alcee Hastings, Florida 23rd
(202) 225-1313

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, Colorado 7th
(202) 225-2645

Rep. Jared Polis, Colorado 2nd
(202) 225-2161

Rep. Doris Matsui, California 5th
(202) 225-7163

Rep. Dennis Cardoza, California 18th
(202) 225-6131

Less than an hour before the meeting starts. Make a quick call now!

Chris Bowers :: Quick Action: Contact Rules Committee For SUPERTRAINS

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Quick Action: Contact Rules Committee For SUPERTRAINS | 30 comments

Chris (4.00 / 1)

I would also urge support for the Corrine Brown amendment which would increase appropriations for intercity passenger rail and amtrak by 3.9 bn.

LINK

by: adamterando @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 12:48:42 PM CST

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Will do (0.00 / 0)

Included in the action. Hare amendment also added.

by: Chris Bowers @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 12:50:05 PM CST

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by: you @ soon

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Thanks for posting (4.00 / 1)

You should also consider posting this at DailyKos. The more attentions this gets, the more phone calls, the better chance that the amendment will get approved.

I find it ridiculous that the Obama folks are willing to give the GOP hundreds of billions in tax cuts (and potentially the AMT fix, which would add $70 billion more to the bill) all at the expense of real job creation programs like mass transit. I just can't get my head around it.

by: existenz @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 12:49:16 PM CST

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The AMT fix helps a lot of northeastern democrats.. (4.00 / 2)

...that live in high cost of living areas... It helps blue constituencies and is needed...

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

by: lord_mike @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 12:52:54 PM CST

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Is that the direct number? (0.00 / 0)

Do I actually ask for "the rules committee"? I've never called a committee before... how does this work?

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

by: lord_mike @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 12:53:58 PM CST

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I was connected directly to a committee staffer (4.00 / 1)

Didn't get her name but the phone was answered on the first ring.

by: jeffbinnc @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 12:56:33 PM CST

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Yes it's a direct number (4.00 / 1)

Just say what Chris has written in bold. They will answer "Rules Committee" and then just say your name (if you want) and that you hope they approve these amendments for a floor vote. That's it. They'll thank you for contacting them and you say goodbye. Simple and painless.

by: adamterando @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 12:57:47 PM CST

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Done (4.00 / 4)

Staffer said "We've been getting calls on that."

Good job Chris and Adam

by: John Halle @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:02:53 PM CST

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Done! (4.00 / 2)

Thanks!

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

by: lord_mike @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:03:46 PM CST

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done (4.00 / 2)

called them and they have gotten many calls on this. we will see

by: art3 @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:15:26 PM CST

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Done -- what else? (4.00 / 1)

Would it help to call the offices of individual Rules Committee members? Or do we wait for the floor vote?

by: DaveW @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:24:44 PM CST

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That should do for now (0.00 / 0)

But I will update with Rules committee members contact info.

by: Chris Bowers @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:25:39 PM CST

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Easy enough (4.00 / 2)

Though it did take quite a few rings.

They were quite polite, and asked for my name and state.

by: hellenica @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:27:46 PM CST

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Success! (4.00 / 2)

Nadler's amendment is a go. Now everyone can play, because there will be a floor vote tomorrow.

by: WI Dem @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:30:15 PM CST

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Awesome! (4.00 / 1)

Did PIRG tell you that?

by: adamterando @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:31:29 PM CST

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Yep. (0.00 / 0)

They're doing great on this, along with T4A, et al.

by: WI Dem @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:36:53 PM CST

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Really? (0.00 / 0)

Fantastic news. Let's get to calling members of the House!

John McCain: Beacuse lobbyists should have more power

by: Populista @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:34:02 PM CST

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Brown and Hare amendments? (0.00 / 0)

What about the Brown and Hare amendments?

by: Chris Bowers @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:50:54 PM CST

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Argh (0.00 / 0)

Not so done yet. From PIRG:

Just so you know, this isn't definite yet. We're still waiting for a confirmation on the Nadler amendment, but the rumor is that Pelosi might be giving it the green light.

by: WI Dem @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 14:04:26 PM CST

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What's the hang-up with pelosi? (0.00 / 0)

Maybe we should be calling the speaker's office!

by: adamterando @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 14:12:26 PM CST

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Let's call individual members (0.00 / 0)

The Rules Committee has been getting plenty of calls about it. Let's get the #'s for each individual member and start calling them up.

John McCain: Beacuse lobbyists should have more power

by: Populista @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:33:07 PM CST

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Thanks for posting #'s Chris (0.00 / 0)

Worth noting that McGovern is the vice chair.

John McCain: Beacuse lobbyists should have more power

by: Populista @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:35:16 PM CST

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My calls (4.00 / 2)

I called my congressperson, Diane Watson. A very unfriendly office, but they did take my comment. The good news is that she's one of the most liberal members and presumably supports this stuff.

I called Sen. Feinstein and Sen. Boxer. Both offices said they have had lots of calls regarding mass transit, and the staffers themselves agree that it needs more funding than just $10 billion.

This is one of those issues that is incredibly popular across the board (even Republicans, though perhaps not the leadership) yet gets shortchanged. Very odd.

by: existenz @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:39:18 PM CST

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Done n/t (4.00 / 1)

by: bennytoothpick @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:44:27 PM CST

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What next? (4.00 / 2)

Are there equivalent amendments in the Senate? Where does the process go now, and how can we best make our case for much better funding for rail/mass transit? Any time lines?

BTW, I think this is an example of where OL can carve out a distinct niche for itself. We are a contentious group on some big issues, but pretty much agreed on details. What's needed is a reliable and consistent place that brings together the action items on those details.

by: DaveW @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 13:55:22 PM CST

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Agree totally (0.00 / 0)

I, for one, am glad to function as a cog in this particular machine.

by: John Halle @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 14:04:30 PM CST

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i agree (0.00 / 0)

personally, i think there are a lot of people (myself included) who are willing to do small things like calling a committee or calling their reps if they know how and when to do it. It would be cool to organize, either on this site or some other, some way to get this information to people on a regular and timely basis.

by: bennytoothpick @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 14:07:22 PM CST

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That's what Chris has been taling about (0.00 / 0)

here

by: jeffbinnc @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 14:15:35 PM CST

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great news (0.00 / 0)

the Nadler amendment made it through Rules and will be voted on by the full House. If we can get someone to carry it in the Senate we may be able to restore $3 billion in transit funding.

Insert shameless blog promotion here.

by: dday @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 19:53:49 PM CST

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Sent an email action alert... (0.00 / 0)

...to several thousand activists on this issue earlier today. Let's hope for the best!

by: Gerik @ Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 00:17:02 AM CST

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Quick Action: Contact Rules Committee For SUPERTRAINS | 30 comments

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