To protect unions? Durbin proposes legislation to block Amtrak privatization

Here's a brilliant idea: House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) wants to sell Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line, which runs from Washington to Boston. This line, which actually makes money--unusual for Amtrak--would certainly be more profitable if run by business people instead of bureaucrats. And the service would improve.

But Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) wants to prevent it. A bill he proposed today would serve as a poison pill for any potential buyer of the Northeast Corridor line, or for instance Chicago's Midway Airport, which former Mayor Richard M. Daley wanted to sell but the recession dried up financing before any deal could takes. The Springfield Democrat the federal government to be reimbursed for any capital infrastructure improvements--minus depreciation, Crain's Chicago Business is reporting. Estimates of savings from cutting jobs and salaries would be also need to be disclosed, Crain's says in regards to any hypothetical sale. And that is the heart of it. A privatized-Northeast Corridor just might chug along with fewer union personnel.

And we know that more than ever, the Democrats are the party of Big Labor.

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