Republican leaders kill retirement measure
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a display of partisan politics at its worst, the Republican leadership has allowed a small handful of right-wing Republican leaders to kill any chance for passage of the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2000 this legislative session.

"After 10 months of hard work, a handful of conservative Republicans, primarily senators Phil Gramm (Tex.), Assistant Majority Whip Don Nickles (Okla.) and Pete Domenici (N.M.), ignored the pleas of Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and others and killed Railroad Retirement reform for this session," National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer said.

"Almost 40 Republican senators had indicated support of these improvements," Brunkenhoefer said. "But given a choice of standing with the more than 50,000 widows and widowers who needed additional benefits and the many thousands of railroaders who are looking forward to a well-deserved early retirement, the Republican Caucus stood with these three senators."

Gramm said, in effect, "that killing this legislation was something that the Republican senators should be able to campaign on," Brunkenhoefer said.

"In addition, we were told that some Republican senators did not want to pass this legislation because they wanted to 'leave money on the table' so it could be credited for a possible George W. Bush tax cut, if he is elected president," Brunkenhoefer said.

In another affront, the Republican House leadership, in a behind-the-scenes deal, included in a tax measure the carriers' long-sought 4.3-cent-per-gallon diesel fuel tax cut.

"This is insulting to every railroad worker, everyone who receives a rail pension, every family who survives on a railroad paycheck," UTU International President Charles L. Little said.

"When you enter the voting booth on November 7, don't forget that Republicans killed H.R. 4844. If the Republicans in Congress cannot convince their majority leadership to support the will of the people, then it is time to elect those who will," Brunkenhoefer said.

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