Hotline #672-B

Debate continues on S.1204, the Moynihan surface transportation bill, with a final vote expected for this evening. The great showdown has been between Senator Moynihan (D.-N.Y.) himself, whose bill does the most in terms of including passenger rail as an eligible trust fund program and a level playing field across all modes, and Senator Warner (R.-Va.), who is leading a coalition of Senators from Highway Trust Fund "donor states," which pay more in gas taxes than they get back in federal highway money.

The Warner coalition had a bill of its own -- essentially the Administration bill with a re-working of the highway money allocation formulas to benefit the donor states. But the Warner bill contained none of the balanced-transportation language found in the Moynihan bill. The Warner coalition wanted to see its bill replace the Moynihan bill, which would have been very bad for us. It is now more likely that Senator Byrd (D.-W.Va.) momentarily will introduce a compromise amendment to allow a re-working of the allocation formulas within the Moynihan bill. The main thing is that the balanced transportation and flexibility language be part of the final bill.

Senator Durenberger (Minn.) is expected to introduce an amendment to designate a National Highway System, which Senator Moynihan has refused to do, even under threat of a veto from the Administration.

It is hoped that Senator Simon (D.-Ill.) can still introduce his passenger-rail corridor grade-crossing elimination bill, S.1065, as an amendment to the main bill. This amendment would be a big help in developing corridors and so needs the support of every Senator. Other important possible amendments include one by Senator Mitchell (D.-Me.) to require a rail link in the Boston Central Artery project and another by Senators Nickles (Okla.), Dole (Kans.), and Bensten (Tex.) allowing states without Amtrak service, such as Oklahoma, to use their rural transit money for Amtrak service. That last one may not pass because of last-minute opposition from the transit industry.

This afternoon, the Senate approved inclusion of S.1194, the Banking Committee transit bill, into the Moynihan bill.

The way things look now, the House may not introduce its main bill until after the July 4 recess and it may not have much of the good Moynihan language.