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    Passenger Rail Act passes US House

    Major news this afternoon. The U.S. House just a few moments ago passed HR-6003, the Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act of 2008, by a veto-proof majority…. 311 to 104.

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    You’ll recall the Senate passed its version of the bill (S-294) by a 93 to 6 margin late last year. The next step will be for the bill to go to a joint House-Senate Conference Committee. The conferees have not yet been named.

    This bill, if it becomes law, will not only greatly increase funding for Amtrak, but carries the first-ever state matching grant program that can advance the Ohio Hub Plan and state-generated passenger rail plans like it around the nation.

    Here’s how Ohio’s Congressional delegation voted today:

    Nay OH-1 Chabot, Steven [R]

    Nay OH-2 Schmidt, Jean [R]

    Aye OH-3 Turner, Michael [R]

    Nay OH-4 Jordan, Jim [R]

    Nay OH-5 Latta, Robert [R]

    Aye OH-6 Wilson, Charles [D]

    Nay OH-7 Hobson, David [R]

    Nay OH-8 Boehner, John [R]

    No Vote OH-9 Kaptur, Marcy [D]

    Aye OH-10 Kucinich, Dennis [D]

    Aye OH-11 Jones, Stephanie [D]

    Aye OH-12 Tiberi, Patrick [R]

    Aye OH-13 Sutton, Betty [D]

    Aye OH-14 LaTourette, Steven [R]

    Aye OH-15 Pryce, Deborah [R]

    Aye OH-16 Regula, Ralph [R]

    Aye OH-17 Ryan, Timothy [D]

    Aye OH-18 Space, Zackary [D]

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    Passenger Trains – Considered Again Today

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    Stu Nicholson
    Stu Nicholsonhttp://www.ohiohub.com
    Stu Nicholson describes himself as a "recovering journalist" with 22 years in TV news, as well as a life-long public transportation and passenger rail advocate. He has also served as the Public Information Officer for the Central Ohio Transit Authority and the Ohio Rail Development Commission. He currently works in public relations here in Columbus.
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