The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 5, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
February 3rd, 2023, 38 Norfolk Southern rail cars detailed in East Palestine, OH, 20 of which carried hazardous materials, and 11 of which caught fire. The Railway Safety Act was filed shortly after in Congress, but in 2023, Norfolk Southern and the rail industry spent millions to kill it.
The Railway Safety Act increases fines for safety violations, updates inspection regulations, requires a minimum two-person crew for certain trains, retires older tanker cars, and provides funding for safety research, among many provisions.
Money-in-politics groups Public Citizen and Open Secrets analyzed political spending by Norfolk Southern, its competitors, and rail industry associations on contributions to candidates and SuperPACs, and spending on lobbying. They found that Norfolk Southern and its subsidiaries mobilized anarmy of 41 lobbyists and spent over $2.3 million dollars on lobbying in 2023, up 30% from before the derailment.
In what’s known as the “revolving door” of former members of Congress cashing in on their connections, Norfolk Southern’s lobbyists include former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, former U.S. Senator John Breaux, and former U.S. Representative Patrick Meehan (R-PA), among dozens of former Congressional and White House staffers.
That doesn’t include the rest of the industry. Just in the 2024 election cycle, the rail industry has donated over $2.3 Million dollars to candidates and PACs to date, roughly 65% to Republicans and 35% to Democrats. It spent another $24 Million dollars on lobbying.
That money bought inaction. The bill, introduced in March 2023, remains stuck in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
We have links to OpenSecrets and other resources at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
The Hill – (2023) Railroad pushback to safety regulations scrutinized amid East Palestine disaster
U.S. Congress – HR 1674 Railway Safety Act
Open Secrets – Transportation Political Influence – Railroads Summary
Open Secrets – Norfolk Southern Political Spending
Public Citizen – One Year After Ohio Train Derailment Disaster, Report Finds Norfolk Southern’s Federal Lobbying Spending Increased 30 Percent
Public Citizen – Lobbying After Disaster Norfolk Southern Corporation Lobbying Spending in the Year Since The Ohio Train Derailment and Toxic Fire
Associated Press – Railroads say they’re making safety changes to reduce derailments after fiery Ohio crash
TTD – (Union Press Release) AHEAD OF EAST PALESTINE ANNIVERSARY, RAIL CHIEFS RENEW CALLS FOR SAFETY REFORMS
Groups Taking Action:
Public Citizen, Common Cause, Issue One, Represent.Us
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #EastPalestine #BigMoneyOut #RailroadSafety #OverturnCitizensUnited