In Ohio, a huge smoke column rose from the train derailment and chemical
fire that followed.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition demanding Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
immediately use his existing power to make safety rules much stronger, so
that rail workers and communities across America are protected.
[ [link removed] ]Turn on images to see the column of smoke over East Palestine, OH.
UPDATED: More than two weeks after the massive Norfolk Southern train
derailment and toxic chemical fire in Ohio, The New Republic reports
"People in East Palestine and neighboring towns are suffering from
respiratory issues, skin reactions, and more, while animals have been
found dead."
Hundreds of miles downriver, the Cincinnati water company has announced it
will temporarily close intake valves to the Ohio River and switch to water
reserves when the chemicals reach the city.
And Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is facing new questions about
why two years into the job he has done nothing to reinstate safety rules
put in place by President Obama to prevent this, but then gutted by Donald
Trump after corrupt corporate lobbying.
[ [link removed] ]Please sign our petition demanding Transportation Secretary Pete
Buttigieg immediately use his existing power to make safety rules much
stronger, so that rail workers and communities across America are
protected. Sign here.
In 2017, when Trump gutted train safety rules that would have required new
braking technology on certain trains with hazardous cargo, officials in
his government said the costs would outweigh the benefits.
In 2018, The Associated Press found that the study Trump officials cited
was deeply flawed -- by over $100 million.
A former federal safety official recently warned Congress that without the
better brakes, "there will be more derailments [and] more releases of
hazardous materials."
But The Lever reports, "Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s
department has not moved to reinstate an Obama-era rail safety rule aimed
at expanding the use of better braking technology."
The director of the Revolving Door Project tells The Nation, "An engaged
secretary of transportation would have begun the process of reanalyzing
the costs and benefits of a new braking rule on their first day in office.
It should not take a tragedy to get him focused on the responsibilities of
his office." The Revolving Door Project scrutinizes executive branch
appointees to ensure they use their office to serve the broad public
interest, rather than to entrench corporate power.
The Nation also reports that "industry watchers and union activists have
suggested multiple ways Buttigieg could use his existing power to ramp up
the regulation of the railroad industry."
But The Nation questions whether Buttigieg even wants to act, adding,
"Buttigieg’s policy paralysis is a matter of choice, not structural
barriers. It’s hardly surprising that Buttigieg, whose résumé includes
time as a McKinsey consultant, is allergic to government regulation of
industry."
For his part, after being silent on the derailment for 10 days, Pete put
out a Tweet calling for "accountability" -- but he is the one who can do
something to hold accountable greedy corporations who cut corners.
Accountability by Tweet only will not do.
[ [link removed] ]Please join concerned Americans across the nation on our petition
demanding Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg immediately use his
existing power to challenge corporate interests and make safety rules much
stronger, so our people are protected. Sign here.
Thanks for being a bold progressive.
-- The PCCC Team ([ [link removed] ]@BoldProgressive)
Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.Have you moved? Want to update your email address? Click below.
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