Joseph Boardman, currently the admistrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, was named President and CEO of Amtrak today by the board of directors of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
Boardman, a nationally recognized transportation industry leader at all levels of government, will begin his duties on Wednesday November 26, 2008. His appointment is for one year while the board looks for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.
Amtrak Vice Chairman, Hunter Biden (son of Vice President elect Joe Biden), said in a release today that Boardman "has the unique perspective of having known Amtrak as a customer and state partner, administrator, and has been involved with Amtrak, in one role or another, over the course of many years."
Unlike the administration of George W. Bush, President elect Barrak Obama is an ardent supporter of Amtrak. The interim appointment of Boardman is a signal that the Amtrak board is determined to find the right leader who not only will provide vigorous management at this critical juncture in Amtrak's history, but someone who will fit well with the incoming Obama administration.
Amtrak has posted six consecutive years of growth in ridership and revenue, carrying more than 28.7 million passengers in the last fiscal year. Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system.
I have never been as optimistic about Amtrak as I am today.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Pelosi Keeping Her Word on "Greening the Capitol"
In 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pledged to make the U.S. House of Representatives a leader in providing an environmentally responsible and healthy working environment for House employees and a showcase for sustainability. So far she's been true to her word.
Today, the Capitol is moving closer to the goal of being the World's first carbon neutral legislative body. The U.S. House is now just a few years away from reducing its energy consumption by 50 percent, and is even closer in reaching its green goals in waste reduction, transportation, and procurement.
Just a few weeks ago, in an effort to be even more environmentally friendly in its cafeterias, the House has replaced the traditional bottled water, made of oil based plastic that will sit in a landfill for more than a hundred years, with bottles that biodegrade in less than 12 weeks.
The spring water from Virgina-based Grand Springs will be sold only in biodegradable containers (made from corn) by the Iowa-based company Naturally Iowa. The new water containers will be thrown into the compost stream of the capitol's food waste resulting in no negative effect on the environment.
When it comes to "Greening the Capitol," here's a promise that the politicians appear to be keeping.
Today, the Capitol is moving closer to the goal of being the World's first carbon neutral legislative body. The U.S. House is now just a few years away from reducing its energy consumption by 50 percent, and is even closer in reaching its green goals in waste reduction, transportation, and procurement.
Just a few weeks ago, in an effort to be even more environmentally friendly in its cafeterias, the House has replaced the traditional bottled water, made of oil based plastic that will sit in a landfill for more than a hundred years, with bottles that biodegrade in less than 12 weeks.
The spring water from Virgina-based Grand Springs will be sold only in biodegradable containers (made from corn) by the Iowa-based company Naturally Iowa. The new water containers will be thrown into the compost stream of the capitol's food waste resulting in no negative effect on the environment.
When it comes to "Greening the Capitol," here's a promise that the politicians appear to be keeping.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Pelosi Fairness Doctrine Unnecessary
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi need not reinstate the Fairness Doctrine for two reasons. First, we already have the "fairness" Pelosi so desperately wants. NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and two-thirds of the nation's newspapers are almost (notice I say almost) balanced by FOX News and AM Talk Radio.
Secondly, the so called "right wing talk shows" didn't seem to have much of an impact on the last election. If you haven't noticed, the left wing seems to be alive and well. In fact, even if she is successful in bringing her brand of "fairness" to the airwaves, AM Talk hosts will probably pack up their bags and move over to satelite radio, where they will be out of reach of her and the Federal Communications Commission.
If that happens AM radio will become a wasteland, playing only music you hear in the dentist's office and elevators.
What Pelosi really wants is approved speech not free speech.
Secondly, the so called "right wing talk shows" didn't seem to have much of an impact on the last election. If you haven't noticed, the left wing seems to be alive and well. In fact, even if she is successful in bringing her brand of "fairness" to the airwaves, AM Talk hosts will probably pack up their bags and move over to satelite radio, where they will be out of reach of her and the Federal Communications Commission.
If that happens AM radio will become a wasteland, playing only music you hear in the dentist's office and elevators.
What Pelosi really wants is approved speech not free speech.
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