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22nd June 2008, 10:08 AM

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:54:15 -0700 (PDT), "Peter T. Daniels"
<grammatim@> wrote:

>On Jun 21, 8:18 pm, Stephen Sprunk <step...@sprunk.org> wrote:
>> Anna.Marek6...@ wrote:

>> Appropriations, though, are another matter; I'm glad this reporter
>> actually mentioned that. Historically, Amtrak has only gotten about
>> half what was authorized, which would mean a continuation of the status
>> quo if it happens again.
>
>SCOTUS ruled against the line-item veto quite a while ago. Howcome no
>one challenges the withholding of appropriations?

The authorization sets a goal over several years. It is then up to
Congress to appropriate each year. There is no obligation to
appropriate as much as the authorization. Historically, the annual
appropriations for Amtrak have been much less than the authorized
amount. No appropriations are being withheld, there is no
constitutional issue here.
--
Peter Schleifer
"Save me from the people who would save me from myself"

22nd June 2008, 10:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Peter Schleifer Guest Posts: n/a Classified Rating: % ()	House approves initial look at high speed NYC <-> DC train On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:54:15 -0700 (PDT), "Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@> wrote: >On Jun 21, 8:18 pm, Stephen Sprunk <step...@sprunk.org> wrote: >> Anna.Marek6...@ wrote: >> Appropriations, though, are another matter; I'm glad this reporter >> actually mentioned that. Historically, Amtrak has only gotten about >> half what was authorized, which would mean a continuation of the status >> quo if it happens again. > >SCOTUS ruled against the line-item veto quite a while ago. Howcome no >one challenges the withholding of appropriations? The authorization sets a goal over several years. It is then up to Congress to appropriate each year. There is no obligation to appropriate as much as the authorization. Historically, the annual appropriations for Amtrak have been much less than the authorized amount. No appropriations are being withheld, there is no constitutional issue here. -- Peter Schleifer "Save me from the people who would save me from myself"