From the Star Gazette, via NARP
CAF USA’s impact is significant on the Southern Tier, [Congressman Tom] Reed said.
“It’s not just the 700-plus jobs that you’re seeing here today in this facility. It’s all the supply chain. It’s all the indirect benefits. All of the restaurants and all the suppliers to the industry right here,” he said.
“It’s a huge investment that they’ve made – millions of dollars to the equipment that you see here,” Reed said. “Those are all real American jobs that are putting food on the table and roofs over people’s heads.”
Can you guess what has a Republican Congressman so enthused?
More below the Orange Omnilepticon.
What Congressman Tom Reed (R NY-23) is rhapsodizing about is what happens when the evil Federal government takes money from hard-working people and wastes it on elitist, socialist public transport, AKA Amtrak. But it's okay if it creates jobs in his district. (Sorry, can't resist some snark. Amazing what happens when Keynesian style spending manages to get through the meat grinder in DC.) We're not talking about a lot of money, either -
The Elmira Heights facility received a $300 million contract from Amtrak to produce 130 long-distance passenger cars – baggage, diner, sleeper and bag-dorm cars. The new cars will replace ones that date back to the 1940s and 1950s and are on schedule to be in service by the end of this year.
Yes, these are the first NEW long distance cars Amtrak has gotten in 20 years.
Here's info on what the new cars are like and where they'll be. Would you believe the baggage cars will include bicycle racks for roll-on storage? Here's
some specs. Want a look?
http://youtu.be/...
You look at something like this, and it seems like a no-brainer. The demand is there. The money the Federal government is spending on this is going right back into the economy where it creates jobs for real people - not like the financial sector hoovering up vast sums that do nothing for anyone outside the .1% Not like the minimum wage big box employer whose owners suck wealth out of communities so they can play patron of the arts. As Paul Krugman has been saying repeatedly - we really need to be investing in our infrastructure and never more than now. (Charles P. Pierce has chapter and verse on this.)
For Pete's Sake! Amtrak even supports the troops! (Scroll down for cover story) And not just with a fancy paint scheme on a locomotive - they also plan to hire them. If you are a veteran or you know someone who is, there are links here to apply for jobs.
Tom Reed not withstanding, Republicans are still trying to kill Amtrak. The question isn't why they hate Amtrak - the real question is why they hate America!