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[quote]The "peace dividend" was available in the early Clinton years.  He had high speed rail as a plank in his platform.  Did we get any?  No, but we almost got universal, rationed health care.[/quote]Look at NARP's archive of weekly hotline reports throughouth the 2000.  A fight for the High Speed Rail Investment Act (introduced by Sen. Frank Leutenberg of NJ) was intense.  Unfortunately, two key Senators (including McCain) blocked it.  At the end of the Congressional session, though, McCain did give a warm farewell to Lautenberg (who was leaving Senate for the time being).  Here is McCain's speech (<a href="http://www.narprail.org/h0012.htm">http://www.narprail.org/h0012.htm</a>):[quote]Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.): "First of all, I thank [Sen. Lautenberg] for his advocacy and his strong and heartfelt support about the need for a viable railway system in the Northeast and around America. There has been no one in this body who has been more committed to that proposition than [he]. I congratulate him ... "We will go through a regular process next year to bring up an authorization bill for Amtrak which would then be followed by appropriations. I objected to an appropriation this year because it was $10 billion over 10 years stuck into an appropriations bill for which there had never been a hearing. I hope [Sen. Lautenberg] can understand that. "The second point is, I urge [Sen. Lautenberg] to consider that we have to make a fundamental choice about the national rail system in America -- not just an east coast rail system but a national rail system. There are many countries in the world, including European countries, that regularly subsidize their railway systems. I understand that. I don't dispute it. Perhaps that decision has to be made in the United States of America and in the Congress of the United States with the cooperation of the administration. "I remind the Senator from New Jersey that a few short years ago the decision was made to make Amtrak completely independent. Maybe that was not a wise decision. Last year, Amtrak lost, I think, 900 million and some dollars, and will lose another $900 million, or so. I think we need to make a fundamental decision: Is it a high enough national priority? "I am not prepared to make a decision yet that the taxpayers of America should subsidize a rail system for America. I think the Senator from New Jersey would agree with me that the west coast needs one probably almost as much as the east coast does. We need to make a fundamental decision about what the Government's role will be in a national railway system, and then we need to decide to what degree it is subsidized. "I think a strong argument can be made by anyone who has tried to fly to Newark, or to LaGuardia, or Kennedy lately that they recognize the difficulties in relying simply on air transportation. I think an argument can be made. But I think it deserves full debate and discussion. I thank [Sen. Lautenberg]. I understand his disappointment on this issue. But I would like to make a personal commitment that his spirit will live on, and we will fully examine and fully ventilate this issue and try to come up with a proposal that will satisfy the needs of his constituents and Americans all over this country. Again, I say that with profound admiration and respect for the Senator from New Jersey." [/quote]This gives some insight on where McCain is standing in terms of Amtrak.  Or, maybe it doesnt...
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