RailForum.com
TrainWeb.com

RAILforum Post New Topic  Post A Reply
my profile | directory login | register | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» RAILforum » Passenger Trains » Amtrak » Mica Loses his Seat (Finally)

   
Author Topic: Mica Loses his Seat (Finally)
Ocala Mike
Full Member
Member # 4657

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Ocala Mike     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
One less enemy of Amtrak?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-election-us-congress-20161107-story.html

--------------------
Ocala Mike

Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
palmland
Full Member
Member # 4344

Member Rated:
5
Icon 1 posted      Profile for palmland     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I'll be optimistic. Let's hope the new administration encourages a complete review of Amtrak financing (or lack of) and comes up with some new ideas. Mica's style of micro management is what's been wrong with congress. 40+ years of hand to mouth is enough.

Moorman might be the guy to get the attention of a business friendly government, especially with the renewed interest in infrastructure investment. You can be sure there will be an effort in actually getting off the ground the congressionally mandated pilot program for 3 LD routes handled by private operators. The theory that it will result in better service at lower cost should be tested.

Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Gilbert B Norman
Full Member
Member # 1541

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Gilbert B Norman     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Just think, no more watching dollar bills being burned and other "crass" grandstanding at Amtrak related House Committee hearings.

Also of interest; FL7 was redrawn just before the Election, and in the process, the Auto Train facility appears to no longer be within the District. If such be the case, just as well he's "outta there".

But wait volks; the Micascope will simply be moving from First & Capitol to K Street. It could well end up being at work for NARP - if the price was right!!!!

Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Vincent206
Full Member
Member # 15447

Member Rated:
5
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Vincent206     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
How about Secretary of Transportation John Mica? Imagine the possibilities...
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Jerome Nicholson
Full Member
Member # 3116

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Jerome Nicholson     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Vincent206:
How about Secretary of Transportation John Mica? Imagine the possibilities...

Frying pan to fire!
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Gilbert B Norman
Full Member
Member # 1541

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Gilbert B Norman     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Here is a "Short List" of "Cabinetmakers" from The Times today:

Short List

No mention of a SecTrans Designate; no mention in the "60 Minutes" interview aired last evening (available at On-Demand, or at least Comcast's varietal of such).

It certainly is telling that Trans remains somewhere down near Postmaster General or Ambassador to The Congo in the Trump Administration.

Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
palmland
Full Member
Member # 4344

Member Rated:
5
Icon 1 posted      Profile for palmland     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Perhaps the omission was intentional. Sec of Transportation has only been around since 1967. Somehow we survived before that. Seems like the necessary functions might fit with the Commerce Sec.

Or, perhaps more likely, the Administration will just keep current Sec. Foxx which would provide the requisite Democrat and at least one minority on the cabinet.

Anyone but that political hack John Mica.

Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Gilbert B Norman
Full Member
Member # 1541

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Gilbert B Norman     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Lest we forget, during the Kennedy administration, the railroads were the principal advocates of a separate Cabinet level chair for transportation.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
George Harris
Full Member
Member # 2077

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for George Harris     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Let's also not forget that the biggest cuts in Amtrak train-miles occurred under a Democrat administration.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Jerome Nicholson
Full Member
Member # 3116

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Jerome Nicholson     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by George Harris:
Let's also not forget that the biggest cuts in Amtrak train-miles occurred under a Democrat administration.

TWO Democratic administration's!
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Gilbert B Norman
Full Member
Member # 1541

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Gilbert B Norman     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Let's not lose sight that Rep. Mica "brought a lot" of transportation projects to Central Florida. Let's not forget Sun Rail (to what extent it's a success is probably "still too early to tell"), but it does serve the core Downtown areas along its route when compared to Tri-Rail which conveniently serves only one (WPB).

Why Rep. Mica had to "sully" his pro-transportation record with all his nauseating Amtrak charades escapes me. What will likely never be public is an objective measurement of the bottom line effect of his "simplifications" on Amtrak F&B. No other mode of transit, save Overseas First Class air, allows a passenger to have something to eat or drink whenever they choose. Those vile Short Ribs I had on Auto Train still "stick to me" - especially when I remember the excellent ones Sky Chef had for United last August.

But Central Florida had best accept that the gravy train has left the station - and with the Adios drumhead on the rear.

Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
palmland
Full Member
Member # 4344

Member Rated:
5
Icon 1 posted      Profile for palmland     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
I think this quote from the Trains news wire says it best:

"Outspoken passenger rail advocate and former Amtrak President David Gunn disagrees. He worked with Mica during his 2002 to 2005 stint at the passenger railroad and answered to the congressman's committee. “Mica never accomplished anything except making issues where none existed," Gunn says."

Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Gilbert B Norman
Full Member
Member # 1541

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Gilbert B Norman     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
It is incongruous that a Member of Congress who unquestionably "brought home the bacon" with transportation projects thought that one transportation agency, with a sizable facility within his Disttict, sought to discredit that agency with frivolous issues and grandstanding of them.

If the District was served by "one a day at 3A", then I guess I "could see it". But with (a guess) 300 good paying Amtrak jobs within such, I'm at a loss to know what made Luigi tick.

Finally, the 7th CD is confronted with the effect of whenever a "lion" is replaced with a "freshman". Stephanie will be a Grandma by the time she has seniority on whatever Committees she sits in order to influence legislation for her "folks (aka voters) back home".

Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
RRRICH
Full Member
Member # 1418

Member Rated:
5
Icon 1 posted      Profile for RRRICH     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
So, what WILL AMTRAK look like under President Trump and his Republican House and Senate? I have not heard anything yet from his campaign or his first week of "transition."
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Gilbert B Norman
Full Member
Member # 1541

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for Gilbert B Norman     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Discussion of Rich's immediate point is moving forth here;

http://www.railforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/11/8280.html

Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
   


Post New Topic  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Home Page

Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2




Copyright © 2007-2016 TrainWeb, Inc. Top of Page|TrainWeb|About Us|Advertise With Us|Contact Us