InfoAnda - Obama's high-speed rail faces political challenge

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Venezuela's Chavez says totally free of cancer, again | | 10 July 2012
Taiwan govt bond buyback less than target | 4 November 2010
Grounded UK nuclear submarine towed free | | 23 October 2010

Cuban Communists to consider term limits for leaders | | 28 January 2012

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Obama's high-speed rail faces political challenge

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Top Stories Most Popular Photos Full Coverage Sitemap Obama's high-speed rail faces political challenge AFP - Saturday, February 12 Send IM Story Print Obama's high-speed rail faces political challenge WASHINGTON (AFP) - – US President Barack Obama wants to build high-speed trains like France's famous TGV around the country to boost US competitiveness and create jobs. But when his 2011-2012 budget plan comes out on Monday, Republicans are likely to hone in on $8 billion in proposed rail funds in their effort to slash spending. An issue of national economic strategy for the White House, high-speed railways, which are under construction from Latin America to the Middle East and across Asia, are mired in political party rivalry over budgets in the United States. Two newly elected Republican governors in the past three months denied crucial federal funds to rail projects, all but killing them, after their Democratic predecessors backed the projects. And the powerful, allegedly pro-rail head of a key House of Representatives committee on transportation, Republican John Mica, condemned Obama's plan to use federal funds to speed up trains in the country's most heavily traveled rail stretch, the Boston-New York-Washington corridor run by the government-owned Amtrak. "Amtrak's Soviet-style train system is not the way to provide modern and efficient passenger rail service," Mica said. In January. Obama declared that building rapid railways is key to the US economy's recovery. "To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information -- from high-speed rail to high-speed Internet," he said in his January 25 State of the Union address. "Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports." Obama proposed to give 80 percent of Americans -- essentially all the largest urban areas -- access to rapid train transport in 25 years. "This could allow you to go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying -- without the pat-down." Two weeks later, Vice President Joe Biden -- the administration's biggest rail fan -- spelled out the details of a $53 billion, six-year plan to support a number of rail projects, with $8 billion the first year. The plan's idea of "high-speed" rail is modest: the main proposals mean boosting existing lines to 200 kilometers per hour (125 mph). But Biden also proposed ground-up projects for "very high speed" trains like those in Europe, Japan and now China: trains running 350 kph (220 mph) or more, that would require laying entirely new tracks. Routes are already roughly laid out: improving Amtrak's northeast corridor; linking Los Angeles and San Francisco in California; creating a Chicago-centered system in the industrial upper midwest; and tying Florida's major cities Tampa, Orlando and Miami. But partisan fights over whether the country should invest more in infrastructure has left all of those projects uncertain. And, despite Mica's call for rail projects to be privately financed, investors and rail builders say they won't undertake such massive investments without government money or a clear commitment. "Obviously it needs both funding and political will," said Stephen Robillard, vice president of Siemens' US high-speed rail division, which is working on the California project. "What I don't know is to what extent it will happen," he said. Projects in Ohio and Wisconsin were killed when new Republican governors said they would not accept federal funds for them. In Wisconsin, the governor turned back $810 million meant for a link between Milwaukee and Madison. That left Spanish train builder Talgo hanging: it had already plowed money into a production facility for four train sets for the route. "We had a bad experience in Wisconsin where the governor rejected the funds," chief executive Antonio Perez told AFP. "That's why I'm skeptical" of the US program. Andy Kurz, president of the US High Speed Rail Association, said the Obama government needs an agency dedicated to high-speed rail, like the one that built interstate highways decades ago, so that the onus is not on cash-strapped states. But that thinking makes high-speed rail a key target for Republicans determined to cut federal government spending -- even if the Obama plan is a minute part of a budget that will top $3 trillion. But, says Kurz, the Republican position will also block job creation efforts, boost air pollution, and leave more people stranded in airports. "We spend hundreds of billions on other forms of transport," he said. "High-speed railways offer the most mobility for money spent." Recommend Send IM Story Print News Search Top Stories Iraq suicide bomber kills 27 Shiite pilgrims Erik Guay claims ski world downhill gold Greece blasts EU-IMF asset sale demand Obama's high-speed rail faces political challenge Republicans plan cuts to US State Dept, UN contribution More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake Russia loses military satellite: reports US auto sales jump 17 percent in January Dow closes over 12,000 for first time since June 2008 Egypt's Mubarak to step down at September election More Most Viewed » More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Saturday, 12 February 2011
Egypt Live Report
Assange made 'enemy number one': lawyer
Assange lawyer says Swedish PM prejudices case
Egypt Live Report
'Beware friendly US,' Ahmadinejad warns Egyptians
Swiss father admitted to 'killing missing twins'
End of Mubarak era as protests topple president
US unveils housing market overhaul
Swiss freeze possible Mubarak assets |
US trade gap widens as China deficit hits record
Mubarak steps down: Vice President
Gaza celebrates Mubarak exit; Hamas demands change |
Instant view
Brazil arrests 35 in swoop on Rio police corruption |
Egyptians' reaction to Mubarak stepping down
US-TECH Summary
Cuba releases another political prisoner |
South Sudan army clashes with renegade kill 105
Nokia joins forces with Microsoft to beat competition
Egypt minister plays down military role
7.0 quake shakes Chile capital Santiago: USGS |
Egypt army says ready to lift state of emergency
Wave of Tunisian migrant arrivals alarms Italy |
Japan emperor diagnosed with artery condition
Saving south Sudan's 'lost mothers'
Dogs sexier than smartphones: Retrevo
10 Indonesians arrested over religious violence
Cartoon news is the future: Hong Kong media mogul
Global minimum and maximum temperatures
Beating ban stirs debate in S. Korean schools
Lacroix celebrates allure of the Orient
Astronaut's space tales aim to inspire
Smartphone makers to woo developers in Barcelona |
Groupon pulls controversial Tibet Super Bowl ads |
Micron upbeat on DRAM and NAND memory prices |
Telus profit surges on data and wireless revenue |
Lady Gaga's new single compared to Madonna |
US-TECH Summary
Jeff Beck hopes to make a Commotion at Grammys |
Smartphone makers to woo developers in Barcelona
Behind-the-scenes of Glee's music |
German cross-eyed opossum to predict Oscars on TV |
New dawn for Egypt as Mubarak toppled
Diplomatic crisis over Frenchwoman jailed in Mexico
World leaders hail Mubarak resignation
Egyptian activist creates image issues for Google
Father of missing twins revealed he killed girls: police
Republicans plan cuts to US State Dept, UN contribution
Fireworks, carnival erupt at toppling of "Pharaoh"
Activision says sharper focus will pay off
Jubilant Egyptians pray as post-Mubarak era dawns |
Swedish PM 'harmed chances of Assange fair trial': lawyer
US unveils housing market overhaul
FACTBOX-Egyptian opposition reaction to Mubarak resignation
Telus profit surges on data and wireless revenue
US trade gap widens as China deficit hits record
Google says 'I do' to wedding planning
From London to New York, Egyptians are jubilant
Diplomacy stalemate over North Korea's nuclear programme |
Nokia joins forces with Microsoft in mobile phone 'war'
Obama urges Egyptian army to ensure democratic change
Top U.S. military officer to visit Israel and Jordan |
Gaza celebrates Mubarak exit; Hamas demands change
Groupon pulls Tibet, whales, rainforest ads
Support for Japan government drops below 20 percent: survey |
Factbox
Colombian FARC rebels release two more hostages |
Could smartphones go stupid?
Systematic rape continues on Congo-Angola border: U.N. |
Web makes 15 mins fame a lifetime of shame
Australian newspaper boss arrested in Myanmar
Liz Taylor in hospital for heart condition
World leaders hail Mubarak resignation
Groupon pulls controversial Tibet Super Bowl ads
Witness: Joy at Mubarak's demise contrasts with tense accession |
German cross-eyed opossum to predict Oscars on TV
Liu Xiang in third on European return
US-TECH Summary
China downplays news of Egyptian uprising
Nokia joins forces with Microsoft in mobile phone 'war'
China AIDS activist gets 1-year prison sentence
Myanmar junta tells people to protect 'democracy'
Soul legend Franklin takes in Pistons game
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Taiwan protests name change in banking group
"King's Speech" expected to pass $200 million
Al Pacino to play Matisse in new movie
Liz Taylor in hospital for heart condition
Egyptian activist creates image issues for Google |
Activision says sharper focus will pay off |
Elizabeth Taylor treated for congestive heart failure
Rihanna rehearsing for Grammys despite illness
Angelina Jolie denies reports of Haiti adoption
Luxor a tourist ghost town amid uprising
Pakistan flag-carrier's head resigns to end strike
Behind-the-scenes of Glee's music
Pakistan national airline staff end strike -pilots
Pakistani rupee at 8-½ month high; stocks fall sharply
Pakistani airline employees end 4-day strike
Elizabeth Taylor treated for congestive heart failure |
Angelina Jolie denies reports of Haiti adoption |
King's Speech expected to pass $200 million |
Rihanna rehearsing for Grammys despite illness |
Greece blasts EU-IMF asset sale demand
Yap.TV lets viewers chat as they watch
Erik Guay claims ski world downhill gold
Obama's high-speed rail faces political challenge
Palestinian Authority calls election |
Algeria police stifle Egypt-inspired protest |
Armed Yemeni government supporters break up protest |
Suicide bomber kills 28 and wounds dozens in Iraq |
Pakistan court orders arrest of ex-president Musharraf |
Taliban assault on Afghanistan police headquarters kills 16 |
Civil servant in Fujian paid for doing nothing
Witness: Will history repeat itself in Egypt? |
Taiwan president directs government to monitor commodity prices
Dong devaluation no worry for Thai exports
Diesel subsidy extended again in Thailand, biofuel content cut
Thriving spas draw tourists to Bali
S. Korea's central bank puts off key rate hike
Chicago conductor gets pacemaker after fall
Pakistan International Airlines flies as MD quits
Two insurgents, policeman killed in South Thailand
Pakstani c.bank to buy t-bills in 6-day reverse-repo
S. Korea strives to curb home rent prices
Indian exports up 32.5 percent on Western demand
Norwegian investors in Pakistan to be given full security: PM
Assange lawyer says Swedish PM prejudices case |
Rock 'n' roll on sick list as Grammys and fans go pop |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01