Zinke votes to cut Amtrak funding

Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke either did or did not vote to stop federal funding for Amtrak, but the U.S. House of Representatives voted to authorize $8 million of funding for the rail service.

Heather Swift, a spokesperson for Zinke said that he voted for the bill that had an amendment that would stop all federal funding to Amtrak because he knew that it would not pass. He was voting for the rest of the bill.

“I’m a supporter of rail, but I think we need to innovate,” Zinke said in a press release. “I think it’s time we look for a better model because Amtrak’s model is not working. My vote was a ‘shot across the bow’ to let Amtrak know that we are serious and take fiscal accountability and transparency seriously in Montana.”

The Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act would keep the current level of funds allocated to Amtrak — around $1.4 billion a year — for the next four years, and also includes other reforms aimed at improving the railroad’s fiscal performance, reads a press release from Montana AFL-CIO, a labor union. An amendment to this act would take away all federal funding for the rail.

“It’s disappointing that Congressman Zinke sided with the Club for Growth over the people of Montana,” said Al Ekblad, the executive secretary of the Montana AFL-CIO. “Out rural communities depend on the Empire Builder. Furthermore, Amtrak benefits Montana with millions of dollars in savings and generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue.”

Club for Growth is a conservative political advocacy group that supports limited government.

Bob Funk, the communication director for Montana AFL-CIO said “this is the most disingenuous thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

Funk said that at the end of the day, what Zinke did was make a fundraising vote for the Club for Growth.

“It was a vote that the congressman did not think the people of Montana would notice,” he said. “ … He’s got his pack in Washington, D.C., that he’s trying to raise more money for.”

Funk said that Zinke’s position was a radical one, especially considering that Amtrak is very important in Montana.

“I am impressed by the spin they’re trying to use,” Funk said. “ … People are going to say, ‘OK, he voted against passenger rail. I’m glad he changed his mind at the end of the day.”

Swift said that the AFL-CIO is in the wrong with their claims that Zinke voted against Amtrak funding.

“AFL-CIO’s press release is false,” Swift said. “Straight-up, patently false. … Despite knowing that it would fail, Zinke also voted for an amendment on the bill which would remove federal subsidies of Amtrak because he believes it’s important to let organizations know Zinke will hold them accountable if they do not spend Montana taxpayer dollars wisely.”

She said that Zinke did vote yes on the bill, which provides full funding for Amtrak, as well as makes the rail company “more transparent and more accountable to the taxpayer while increasing private sector competition,” but did vote for the amendment that would take away funding.

“Why even risk?” Funk said. “Why even play with that concept?”

In his press release, Zinke said that the east coast of the U.S. takes up a large portion of the funds, while Montanans pay into it.

“I don’t believe we get our fair share reinvested,” he said in the release. “Ideally, I’d like to see passenger rail get to a place where it will be successful without any government funding. That’s a win for the industry and for Montana taxpayers.”

The bill, without the amendment, moves to the Senate.