HB 26-09: Expansion of High Speed Rail and Mass Transit Act (Tabled)

[Rep Jessica]

Mr.Speaker

This is why our nation trails most of the developed world as we never fund Atlasian greatness enough where it matters. We don't do anything great anymore as it  is never built or allowed to move ahead because it cost too damn much for some reason or is too hard. We don't spend the money we should on infrastructure be it on our roads, bridges or train system and the sad reality is Atlasia is quickly becoming a second world country. The cold hard Fact is countries like Spain, Italy, France, Japan, China along with so many more have super fast trains and so should we. I ask my fellow reps to oppose this tabling as Atlasians deserve to enjoy super fast rail just like most of the rest of the developed world.

I yield

[OBD]

Butting in as a citizen again if no one minds.

Okay, so before I say this, a couple things to make clear. I currently oppose the bill as written due to the current budget crunch, but I'm open to future HSR expansion if it's done smartly. Right now, I have severe doubts about the Southern leg of this bill, which passes through areas that aren't densely populated enough to economically support the immense cost of HSR construction (giving off pork barrel vibes). But these doubts are accentuated by the fact that some routes far more logical than these have not yet been proposed!

Take Chicago to New York, for instance. This corridor is very populous, links two economic powerhouses, and also has multiple large cities on it. I don't think I exaggerate when I say this corridor is the second-most trafficked in America, behind only the NE I-95 metropolitan area. A Milwaukee - Chicago - South Bend - Detroit - Dayton - Cleveland - Pittsburg - Philly - New York line makes logical sense, but we're building lines in rural Texas and from Chicago to St. Louis instead? What? And why hasn't it been pointed out yet that Dallas - one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country - is not included in this plan?

As I said above, HSR expansion is not necessarily a bad thing, but it needs to be done better and with more basic logic (and when we're actually able to run a surplus). We should start with logical corridors - like the coastal lines and the Texas triangle - before risking billions in construction investment in areas where few, if any people may actually use the services. I firmly believe that HSR is a key part of the future of Atlasian infrastructure, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution for every transportation woe. Sorry for the rant but I think it had to be said.

EDIT: Not to mention Atlanta. Again, WHAT?

[Left Wing]

Mr Speaker.

I concur with the comment of Oregon Blue Dog. This bill has been abused to get large amounts of pork barrel spending. It is frankly ridiculous for the congresswoman to complain about considering the cost when she has tried to pass tax cuts since taking office.

I second the motion to table.

[Joseph Cao]

A vote is now open for 72 hours on the motion to table this bill.

Representatives, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[Adam Griffin]

Abstain

[Rep Jessica]

Nay

[Left Wing]

Aye

[SevenEleven]

Aye.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Nay

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Aye

[AustralianSwingVoter]

https://talkelections.org/AFEWIKI/index.php?title=Fremont_Railway_and_Pan-Regional_Transport_Act
https://talkelections.org/AFEWIKI/index.php?title=Central_and_Northern_Pacific_Railway_Act_of_2017
https://talkelections.org/AFEWIKI/index.php?title=Fremont_Railway_and_Pan-Regional_Transport_Act_of_2018
https://talkelections.org/AFEWIKI/index.php?title=Pacific_Railway_Reauthorization_Act
https://talkelections.org/AFEWIKI/index.php?title=LincolnRail_Act_2017

Somehow nobody bothered to do any research at all on this bill. Lincoln and Fremont both already has a HSR system fully funded and presumably under construction. In which case the question is why should the federal government bother paying for a HSR system for the one region who hasn't paid for it themselves. And why did no members of congress bother to do basic research to check whether this issue had already been addressed before.

[OBD]

https://talkelections.org/AFEWIKI/index.php?title=LincolnRail_Act_2017

Somehow nobody bothered to do any research at all on this bill. Lincoln already has a HSR system funded just like Fremont. In which case the question is why should the federal government bother paying for a HSR system for the one region who hasn't paid for it themselves.

Yeah. Multiple HSR bills were also passed in Fremont - it would be great if the GM or the Comptroller could make a verdict as to the status of HSR in Fremont and Lincoln due to questionable levels of funding adequacy.

[AustralianSwingVoter]

https://talkelections.org/AFEWIKI/index.php?title=LincolnRail_Act_2017

Somehow nobody bothered to do any research at all on this bill. Lincoln already has a HSR system funded just like Fremont. In which case the question is why should the federal government bother paying for a HSR system for the one region who hasn't paid for it themselves.

Yeah. Multiple HSR bills were also passed in Fremont - it would be great if the GM or the Comptroller could make a verdict as to the status of HSR in Fremont and Lincoln due to questionable levels of funding adequacy.

Extrapolating off the approx. $90 Billion dollar pricetag for the full California HSR project and Amtrak's estimate of $150 Billion dollars as the cost of upgrading the Acela/Northeast Corridor to HSR it's certain the cost of a national HSR network as proposed would run well over $1 Trillion dollars.

[Joseph Cao]

Aye FTR.

[Joseph Cao]

Vote has closed. By a vote of 3-2-1-3 (I voted too late), this bill is tabled.