Local Legislators Advocate For Steady Amtrak Funding in Budget

Don MoffittAs the budget impasse continues in Springfield, Governor Bruce Rauner is continuing to battle the $4 Billion hole that comes with House Speaker Michael Madigan’s passed legislation. One cut that Rauner has proposed is a reduction in funds given to the rails, specifically Amtrak.

Locally, Republican legislators are calling for funding to stay put.  State Representatives Don Moffitt and Norine Hammond were in Springfield earlier this week in support of keeping funding steady.

Moffitt says rail services reach out to help a lot of of different entities.

“When we have good passenger rail services, it’s better for the environment, we need to keep that in mind,” says Moffitt. “It’s jobs with the crews, it’s jobs in terms of economic development, it’s traffic that it can bring, tourism that it can bring to these communities. I certainly refer to it as ‘access education’ to have good passenger rail service around the state, serving our state colleges and universities, and helping more students be able to access that. Reduced highway congestion, we need to keep all those things in mind, the benefits of passenger rail.”

Hammond added on the importance of education. She also says the service is an “economic engine.” Under the current Norine Hammondplan, Rauner has proposed a 40-percent cut in Amtrak funds.

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