The High Speed Rail Act (Awaiting Presidential Signature/Veto)

[MasterJedi]

Glad to hear the positive comments about the modified version.

Would anybody like to propose any amendments to what is now written? I'm certainly open to quite a bit, as I would definitely like to get this bill through.

I'd like 2 changes:

Minneapolis, MN- St. Louis, MO- Chicago, IL- Milwaukee, WI- Minneapolis, MN

and

San Diego, CA- Los Angeles, CA- San Fransicso, CA- Portland, OR- Seattle, WA

[Associate Justice PiT]

Glad to hear the positive comments about the modified version.

Would anybody like to propose any amendments to what is now written? I'm certainly open to quite a bit, as I would definitely like to get this bill through.

I'd like 2 changes:

Minneapolis, MN- St. Louis, MO- Chicago, IL- Milwaukee, WI- Minneapolis, MN

and

San Diego, CA- Los Angeles, CA- San Fransicso, CA- Portland, OR- Seattle, WA

     Hopefully that unfortunate misspelling does not make it into the final version of the bill.

[MasterJedi]

Glad to hear the positive comments about the modified version.

Would anybody like to propose any amendments to what is now written? I'm certainly open to quite a bit, as I would definitely like to get this bill through.

I'd like 2 changes:

Minneapolis, MN- St. Louis, MO- Chicago, IL- Milwaukee, WI- Minneapolis, MN

and

San Diego, CA- Los Angeles, CA- San Fransicso, CA- Portland, OR- Seattle, WA

     Hopefully that unfortunate misspelling does not make it into the final version of the bill.

Haha, it's been a long day for me, he can fix it if he likes the idea (I hope) and adds it to his amendment.

[Franzl]

Section 1: The Federal government will construct railroad tracks designed for high speed electrically operated trains running up to 250 km/h (156 mph) between the following cities:

St. Louis, MO - Chicago, IL - Milwaukee, WI - Minneapolis, MN
Washington, DC - Philadelphia, PA - New York, NY - Boston, MA
Seattle, WA - Portland, OR- San Fransisco, CA - Los Angeles, CA - San Diego, CA
Dallas, TX - Houston, TX

Section 2: After the above mentioned construction is complete, private operating companies will be allowed to purchase and operate high speed trains on these routes, after acquiring permission and a contract from the government. The government will encourage as much competition as possible, and will be responsible for certifying that safety measures are appropriately taken by all operating companies.

Section 3: The federal government will collect 15% of all profits made on these routes and the collected money will be used primarily for track maintenance. Any money left over may be used for other government purposes. This arrangement will last at least 12 years, after which it will be determined, based on economic circumstances of the operating companies, whether government subsidies are still necessary. If it is determined that the routes are economically viable, then the tracks may be sold to the respective operating companie(s).


Good suggestions, MasterJedi, I accept them without protest

[Franzl]

As I said in my office thread, I won't be here for a couple of days. I'm well aware that Smid and PiT made proposals. They should feel free to bring them up for a vote.

[HappyWarrior]

Smid and PiT, whats going on with your proposals?

[Associate Justice PiT]

Section 1: The Federal government will construct railroad tracks designed for high speed electrically operated trains running up to 250 km/h (156 mph) between the following cities:

St. Louis, MO - Chicago, IL
Washington, DC - Philadelphia, PA - New York, NY - Boston, MA
San Fransisco, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Dallas, TX - Houston, TX

Section 2: After the above mentioned construction is complete, private operating companies will be allowed to purchase and operate high speed trains on these routes, after acquiring permission and a contract from the government. The government will encourage as much competition as possible, and will be responsible for certifying that safety measures are appropriately taken by all operating companies.

Section 3: The federal government will collect 15% of all profits made on these routes and the collected money will be used primarily for track maintenance. Any money left over may be used for other government purposes. This arrangement will last at least 12 years, at which time all government-owned lines will become available for sale to private corporations. Any private corporation may purchase government-owned tracks provided that it can be reasonably determined that it has nothing to gain or lose from the success or failure of any of the train-operating companies, and that it shall not unreasonably favor one or more companies in charging its prices, under penalty of $5,000,000 in fines.

     The bolded text is what I changed from Franzl's amendment.

[Franzl]

That's acceptable.

I agree with you, after further consideration, that the operating companies themselves owning the tracks would cause a certain conflict of interest, especially regarding new operating companies, should they form after the tracks are privately owned.

I accept your changed amendment as friendly.

[HappyWarrior]

Would anyone object to this being brought to a vote?

[Smid]

The amendment prevents a company that may purchase the rails after 12 years from creating a barrier to competition. I don't see any need to move a further amendment.

[Franzl]

I like the bill as currently written, and request a vote on it. I believe it has sufficient support to pass.

[HappyWarrior]

On the Act itself following the final edits by PiT: 

AYE

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Aye

[Bacon King]

aye

[Franzl]

Aye

[Lief 🗽]

Aye

[MasterJedi]

Aye

[RI]

Aye.

[Smid]

Aye.

[HappyWarrior]

The bill passes.  Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[SPC]

Nay

[DownWithTheLeft]

Nay

[HappyWarrior]

We are now awaiting a signature or veto from President bgwah.

[bgwah]

X President Bgwah

[Marokai Backbeat]

Law'd (Just figured it was about time I did the honors )