“First Class” subsidies on Amtrak are paid by you, if you are a taxpayer. How many of you actually can even take a weekend car vacation this year given the current economy? While only 16% of Amtrak passengers opt for “Sleeper or First Class” travel, Amtrak loses money on each of these travelers because they don’t charge enough to cover their expenses. This loss is estimated to be $1.2 Billion over a ten year period of time with passenger numbers staying the same.

Rick Larsen, once again, seems unable to stop spending money he doesn’t have nor will he see in his lifetime. He has voted against this potential savings to taxpayers even though Amtrak has losses of more than twice as much as it generates and has since its inception. Why are taxpayer’s monies used to prop up some companies? Is Amtrak a government favorite? Why don’t they just charge the amount they need to for “First or Sleeper Class” service?

I don’t know if this $1.2 Billion is included in the over $13+ Trillion dollar debt the Federal government has managed to spend because I do know that there are lots of “sleight of hand” tricks played by politicians and government agencies and private industries when it comes to being truthful to taxpayers. And, while $1.2 Billion is indeed a drop in the bucket, I say we need to trade the “bucket” in for a “tank” as our “bucket” runneth over and not for our benefit!

If you can afford more of the same, then keep the same people in office, but if you believe we can no longer afford a total lack of fiscal restraint, then vote for John Koster for a change of direction.

Catherine Paxton

Arlington