SR13: Resolution Text

LRB-4468/3

SRM:wlj:jf

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Senate RESOLUTION 13

February 14, 2006 - Introduced by Senators Brown, Jauch, Zien, Harsdorf, Schultz, Breske and Kapanke. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.

SR13,1,2 Relating to: memorializing Congress to support H. R. 3318, the Railroad Antitrust and Competition Enhancement Act.

SR13,1,6 Whereas, freight rail service in Wisconsin is vital to the health of our state's economy, with major impacts on agriculture, forest products, utilities, and manufacturing, affecting consumer pocketbooks, as well as economic development and jobs; and

SR13,1,9 Whereas, in 1980, when Congress deregulated most railroad activities, the United States had 40 major railroads, but today there are only 7 Class I railroads and 4 of those control 90 percent of the nation's freight rail traffic; and

SR13,1,13 Whereas, the concentration of rail service among fewer carriers has led to more "captive shippers," customers with one railroad as their only transportation option, and has recently led to dramatically increasing transportation costs for rail service to bulk commodity industries; and

SR13,2,2 Whereas, the freight rail industry enjoys both freedom from extensive federal regulation and an exemption from the federal antitrust laws, creating an uncompetitive environment that hampers the development of competitive forces that might restrain transportation price increases; and

SR13,2,7 Whereas, electric power suppliers to Wisconsin consumers are a key component of a healthy Wisconsin economy, and heavily rely upon rail service for fuel delivery, and they are incurring dramatically increased rail service costs and a declining quality of rail service with utilities reporting near doubling of rail rates for moving coal to electric generators; and

SR13,2,10 Whereas, higher rail rates and deteriorating service have greatly affected agriculture, the state's number one industry, by restraining the ability of our state's farmers to remain competitive in the global marketplace; and

SR13,2,14 Whereas, Wisconsin Representative Mark Green has authored, and Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin has cosponsored, H.R. 3318, a bill to repeal the antitrust exemption applicable to the freight rail industry, a privilege enjoyed by very few American businesses; now, therefore, be it

SR13,2,18 Resolved by the senate, That the members of the Wisconsin senate support legislation in Congress to repeal the current antitrust exemption of the railroad industry from the nation's antitrust laws in order to increase competition and ultimately lower prices to benefit our Wisconsin economy and consumers.

SR13,2,19 (End)