White House inaction on Amtrak board irks Congress

A week after the deadline passed for installing a new Amtrak board of directors, the White House is stalling on the submission of its nominees, according to involved senators and House members.

Meanwhile, the nearly bankrupt passenger railroad continues on autopilot under the current board, which has not made the sweeping business practice changes Congress intended.

The fiscal 1997 budget agreement gave Amtrak $2.2 billion over two years to invest in capital upgrades--with the goal of improving service enough to draw more riders and reach operational self-sufficiency by 2002. As part of the deal for that capital money, Congress also passed a separate Amtrak reauthorization that changed many of its business practices, including the installation of a new board of directors by March 31, 1998.

The new board would have the power to shut down unprofitable routes, many of which Congress now dictates to remain open by statute. If a new board is not appointed by July, the reauthorization is automatically repealed and Amtrak could lose its appropriation.

The new board is to be made up of seven voting members, plus a new Amtrak president and chief executive officer, who is selected by the board and does not vote. All new board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

But President Clinton, who has known about the new board since he signed the bill in November, has yet to nominate a single person. "We haven't heard a word from them," said one Republican aide.

Senators and House members who fought hard to keep Amtrak afloat during the budget debate are increasingly frustrated by the White House's delay. The longer it takes to put the new board in place, aides said, the harder it will be for Amtrak to dig out from under its current problems.

In a letter to Clinton Monday, Rep. Michael Castle, R-Del., said he is "concerned by this delay." Castle urged the president to nominate "experienced professionals," not political appointees.

The only potential nominee to surface so far is former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. Senate Finance Chairman William Roth, R-Del., is "definitely disappointed," a spokesman said, adding, "There's instability without the new board." Both White House and Transportation Department officials declined comment.

The House and Senate also are waiting for the president to appoint two members to another new board called the Amtrak Reform Council. In November of 1999, the ARC is to report to Congress on Amtrak's progress in becoming operationally self-sufficient. If Amtrak is not on course to meet its goals for 2002, the ARC can recommend a plan for restructuring; Amtrak would then submit a plan for liquidation, which would be decided upon by Congress.

House and Senate leaders of both parties have appointed their members, including Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation and New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. But Clinton, who appoints one rail labor representative and one rail management representative, has yet to submit a nomination.