Author: Frank N. Wilner

STB Aims to Reform Rail Permitting – Commentary

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– In the opinion of the late President Ronald Regan, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’” Among railroaders, the phrase rang painfully and expensively true for most of the 20th century when the former Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) regulated railroads into the years the locust hath eaten. Things they have been a changin’ under ICC successor Surface Transportation Board (STB).

Another POTUS 47 Firing—NMB This Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– National Mediation Board member Deirdre E. Hamilton, a Democrat, was fired Oct. 14 by POTUS 47, making her one of many legally questionable independent regulatory agency terminations by the POTUS. Hamilton’s departure leaves the three-member NMB with one Republican (Chairperson Loren E. Sweatt) and one Democrat (Linda Puchala).

Did Primus Engineer His Own Ouster? –– Commentary

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The firing by POTUS 47 of outspoken Surface Transportation Board (STB) member and Democrat Robert E. Primus Aug. 27 leaves the five-member agency short two members as it awaits a formal merger application from Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS). By early morning Aug. 28, Primus’ name was removed from the STB website’s listing of members.

A “Sully” moment for Amtrak’s Anderson

As America increasingly is sheltering in place, losing unprecedented numbers of jobs and retirement savings, fearful of COVID-19, and facing a stress level unfamiliar except to those who have endured war zones,

Begeman named permanent STB chairman

Ann Dawn Begeman was designated permanent chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) March 19 by President Trump. She has been acting chairman since January 2017.

 

Small-railroad tax credit in budget bill

The regional and short line railroad investment tax credit (known as 45-G for its provision in the Internal Revenue Code) is poised to be signed into law by President Trump following its unexpected insertion into the massive two-year Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 passed in the predawn hours Friday, Feb. 9, by the House and Senate.

 

Uncertainty clouds key rail bills in Senate

Two bills of substantial importance to railroads—Staggers Rail Act revisions as part of reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), and extension of the deadline to implement Positive Train Control (PTC)—took meaningful steps forward March 25, gaining the imprimatur of the Senate Commerce Committee.