http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/blogs/frank-n-wilner/did-stb-capitulate-to-trump-and-lenin.html?channel=00
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Balt: It is a pattern that is more frightening as it unfolds.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
While the STB is independent of the Department of Transportation, it is not a fourth branch of government.
It is my understanding that with the little-known Congressional Review Act of 1996, all rule making is supposed to be reported to Congress and they have 60 Congressional working days to review the rule and decide whether to accept the rule or to take action to rescind the rule, with the clock starting to tick only upon submission of the report.
Apparently many agencies have been lax in submitting their reports over the past two decades and there are perhaps thousands of rules that are going to be subject to Congressional review from a variety of agencies.
The conventional wisdom being reported was that the 60 day clock starts when a rule was set, but apparently the Act states the 60 day clock only starts ticking when the report is submitted to Congress, thereby making a large body of rules still subject to CRA.
Very often when we see a new rule come out, our first view is pages from the Federal Register.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
It is very much a closed society that is still trying to find its way. (regardless of which administration/ political party is calling the shots)
The old ICC and newer STB have never been truly independant of political influence or control. They might claim to be independant, but once the government gets involved, politics is involved.
Powerful politicians have exerted influence in favor of their friends and supporters. If the "independant" commisioners didn't go along they wouldn't be reappointed and they'd loose their nice government jobs.
Let's not get paranoid about one rule delay. I think some folks these days are searching (and reaching) for signs of doom from the new administration. This one is quite a reach.
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