Potential Threat to State-Owned Rail Lines in Maine
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- Created: 08 December 2022 08 December 2022
There is a new potential threat to rail use of State-owned rail lines in Maine. In 2021, the Maine legislature passed, and Governor Mills signed, a bill that permits governmental entities representing communities along a rail line owned by the State of Maine to petition Maine’s Commissioner of Transportation to appoint a rail corridor use advisory council to facilitate discussion, gather information and provide advice to the commissioner regarding the further use of that line.
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Rail Strike Averted as House/Senate Settlement Bill Signed by President Biden
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- Created: 01 December 2022 01 December 2022
(Politico) The Senate voted Thursday, the President signed the bill on Saturday to avert a freight rail strike just days before crucial drinking water, food and energy shipments were set to be sidelined, after hurried talks in both chambers of Congress and a visit to the Senate from two of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet secretaries.
Ultimately the Senate voted 80-15, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voting present, on a bill that would impose the terms of a contract negotiated among freight railroads and most of their unions in September. Four out of the 12 unions involved had been holding out for additional paid sick days, making a strike possible as soon as Dec. 9. More from CNBC
President Biden Calls on Congress to Intervene in Threatened Rail Strike
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- Created: 29 November 2022 29 November 2022
(AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday asked Congress to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline in the stalled contract talks, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers would take up legislation this week to impose the deal that unions agreed to in September.
“Let me be clear: a rail shutdown would devastate our economy,” Biden said in a statement. “Without freight rail, many U.S. industries would shut down.”
More from the Associated Press.