Amtrak CEO Responds to Zero Budget Proposal Options

[RailHaRRy]

Forwarded by Friends of Amtrak:

Amtrak CEO Responds to Zero Budget Proposal

Dear Friends of Amtrak:

Amtrak CEO David Gunn today responded to the administration's zero
budget proposal for Amtrak for Fiscal Year 2006.  His response,
contained in an Employee Advisory, is copied below.

Regards,
Craig O'Connell

Bush Proposes No Funding forAmtrak in FY ’06

Dear Amtrak Co-workers:

Earlier today, President Bush sent to Congress his proposed budget for
FY ’06. It provides no funding for Amtrak. In contrast, this year we
are spending $1.4 billion, of which $1.2 billion is from a federal
appropriation to support our operations and capital programs across the
country.

The President’s proposal does provide $360 million to the Surface
Transportation Board for continued commuter and freight operations on
the NEC only after forcing an Amtrak bankruptcy. It also isn’t
accompanied by any kind of plan for how Amtrak could continue
operations. In a word, they have no plan for Amtrak other than
bankruptcy.

Obviously, the proposal is irresponsible and a surprising
disappointment. It doesn’t acknowledge all the hard work you’ve done
over the past two years to run a tighter and better ship. Our costs are
more under control than ever before - that’s quite an accomplishment.

It is critical that reforms and improvements must continue, however.
Amtrak’s management is engaged with its board, the Department of
Transportation and others for this purpose. That work continues. We are
committed to an efficient and productive rail passenger system. The
plan to force us into bankruptcy would be counterproductive to this
goal.

The President's proposal is only the start of a long legislative
process, and we are taking it very seriously. This process has alot of
twists and turns, and it always takes six to nine months to sort out.
It won’t have any impact through the ’05 fiscal year, but there’s going
to be very little cash left at the end of this year. Rest assured that
after all we have been through, I am committed to doing everything I
can to secure adequate funding for ‘06. We have strong support in
Congress and a lot of support across the country.

The best thing that all employees can do is to do their jobs
professionally, delivering the highest quality passenger service we
know how. If we really care about our passengers, others will care
about us. As I travel in the Midwest this week, you can bet that I’m
going to be looking at service standards. Stay safe out there, and keep
your heads up.

Sincerely, David L. Gunn

[NickG]

This letter has now been posted on Amtrak's website. As far as I can tell, the two versions are identical.