New trains should be U.S. made, says visiting transportation secretary (LaHood)

[Newsjock]

Source: Seattle Times

In the wake of the Great Recession, the trains that are ridden in the U.S. should be built in the U.S., federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.

LaHood plans to issue proposals that would require federally funded transit projects to feature domestically built trains, as well as comparable mandates for highways, he said Wednesday in Seattle.

"Our money is going to go to American manufacturers," he said, shortly before speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for Seattle's Mercer Street rebuild.

... LaHood said specifically that streetcars ought to be made in Portland, where Oregon Iron Works in 2009 rolled out the first U.S.-built streetcars in 60 years.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012845258_fastrail09m.html

[baldguy]

1. This is a no-brainer.

Which means it is opposed by conservatives, of course.

[Javaman]

2. They should be, but sadly, they probably won't be. nt

[bossy22]

4. if you read the article

there are good signs of it happening- Oregon Iron Works is starting to pick up orders for its street cars

[Javaman]

12. oh how I truly hope so! :)

a few years ago I had the opportunity to visit the old Bethlaham Steel Mills. It was so depressing. We have lost so much.

I truly hope we reinvest in the basic industries in this nation again.

[liberal N proud]

3. They should have mandated that in any stimulus money

US Made goods only!

[Dappleganger]

+10000!

[Billy Burnett]

17. Would have violated WTO rules (set up by our corporate masters).

America has been turned over to (bought out by) multinational sociopath corporations.

[Romulox]

18. Umm, then won't this ALSO violate WTO?

:hi:

[Billy Burnett]

19. Wait for a foreign trolley car co. to file a claim.

WTO almost always rules in favor of corporate "free trade".

[Romulox]

20. Yeppers. Which makes this mid-term election kabuki.

The President argued passionately against restricting US aid to US companies back during the bankster bailouts and Cash 4 Clunkers.

[SpiralHawk]

5. "No no no no no no no." - Republicon Homelanders

"We should ship these jobs to East Wankerphile or someplace where the little people get paid in dust bunnies.

"That will teach you little people in America that what we really need is MORE MORE MORE MORE Tax Cuts for Rich Republicons. Sneer. Smirk."

- Republicon Homelanders

[denverbill]

6. I thought our trade agreements prohibited the US from excluding bids from other countries.

You know, good old 'free trade'.

I would like to think Congress can demand that our tax dollars be spent giving Americans jobs, not Chinese.

[pinto]

7. Interesting article about what federal transit funds mean "on the ground".

Thanks for the post. :thumbsup:

[Joanne98]

8. DUH!

[disillusioned73]

9. This is good news..

for me personally as well. As I work at one of these manufacturers that supply components for the railcar industry... Lean times is an understatement, we are fighting to stay afloat - I hope the $$$$'s don't take too long to cascade down to us small fries.

[Frisbee]

10. Great news for sure!

Now if they could just make sure the jobs building the rails and operating the trains are UNION jobs I'd be ecstatic!

[Drale]

11. I think

that locomotives and railroad cars are mostly built in the US, there are a few built right over the border in canada but alot of the GE locomotives are built in La grange Il.

[Lightning Count]

13. We need high speed rail similar to Japan. Hopefully, that is also a focus. nt

[kickysnana]

14. No, not Halliburton again, arrgghh.

:sarcasm:

We don't make trains here anymore, or light bulbs.

[Romulox]

15. Wait a minute--C4C, bankster bailouts went to foreign companies and workers!

Why is this time any different? :shrug:

[L0oniX]

16. I'm sure GE will love that. They'll be able to make something other than bombs for a change.