Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Election 2008

From Denver: Dems Discuss Funding Woes; Biden Says “Amtrak”

bidenAP.jpgLast night saw what might one day qualify as an historic moment in transportation circles, as vice presidential candidate Joe Biden used the "A"-word during his speech to the Democratic National Convention in Denver. From a transcript of Biden's address, via CNN:

You know, John McCain is my friend. And I know you hear that phraseused all the time in politics. I mean it. John McCain is my friend.

We've traveled the world together. It's a friendship that goes beyondpolitics. And the personal courage and heroism demonstrated by Johnstill amazes me.

But I profoundly disagree with the directionJohn wants to take this country, from Afghanistan to Iraq, from Amtrakto veterans.

Meanwhile, earlier in the week, a panel of Democratic pols and economists seemed to agree that new investment in American infrastructure -- including freight and commuter rail -- is sorely needed, but came up short on the subject of funding. Roll Call reports:

They allexpressed the need for a private-public partnership, but the questionof where to raise federal funding caused anxiety among the electedofficials.

Onekey issue was that the current system for infrastructure funding,implemented in the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, relies on gas taxesfor revenue. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) called any attempt by Congressto raise the gas tax “dead on arrival.”

ButGov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.) said that with or without the gas tax somethinghad to be done to bridge the funding gap, noting that the $1.6 trillioncited by the ASCE report would only cover maintenance, not newprojects.

“WhenI became governor I had to raise $2.4 billion in taxes,” Rendell said.“When re-election came around — people aren’t stupid — one incumbentlost and she voted against the tax increase.

“This is the time we have to challenge the American people. Folks, you get what you pay for.”

Photo: Associated Press via CNN 

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Metro 2026 World Cup Transit Plans Emerging

From June 13 to July 7, 2026, Los Angeles will host eight World Cup soccer matches, all at the SoFi Stadium in the city of Inglewood

May 9, 2025

Metro Names Bill Scott as Chief of Police

Chief Scott and Metro leadership emphasized that keeping Metro transit safe would require a multi-faceted approach that included the deployment of officers as well as collaboration with the community, ambassadors, and service providers. "Sometimes enforcement is the answer," Scott said. "Sometimes it's not."

May 7, 2025

Lyft’s Anti-Worker Anti-Transit Record Raises Red Flags For Metro Bike Share

Edwin Aviles and Kalayaan Mendoza urge Metro not to reward bad actors working to undermine workers’ rights and mass transit

See all posts