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SCR144....................................................by TRANSPORTATION
RAIL SYSTEMS - Stating findings of the Legislature and expressing grave
concern for the effect on interstate commerce which may result from the
proposed consolidation of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian
National rail systems; and requesting that concerns be formally transmitted
to the federal Surface Transportation Board and to the congressional
delegation representing the state of Idaho in the Congress of the United
States.
02/11 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/14 Rpt prt - to Transp
SCR144
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2000
IN THE SENATE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 144
BY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND EXPRESSING GRAVE CONCERN FOR THE
3 EFFECT ON INTERSTATE COMMERCE WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE PROPOSED CONSOLI-
4 DATION OF THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE AND CANADIAN NATIONAL RAIL SYS-
5 TEMS, AND REQUESTING THAT THESE CONCERNS BE FORMALLY TRANSMITTED TO THE
6 FEDERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD AND TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
7 REPRESENTING THE STATE OF IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
8 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
9 WHEREAS, freight rail transportation is an essential part of the economy
10 of the state of Idaho; and
11 WHEREAS, the freight railroad industry continues to struggle with the
12 implementation of recent mergers in the western and eastern United States; and
13 WHEREAS, the freight railroad industry remains very unsettled and requires
14 time to stabilize and provide the promised benefits to shippers; and
15 WHEREAS, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian National railroads
16 have announced their intention to combine their operations; and
17 WHEREAS, the timing of this merger proposal is not only premature but will
18 likely trigger the final round of railroad industry consolidation at the most
19 inopportune time; and
20 WHEREAS, a new round of premature industry consolidation could threaten
21 the future viability of the U.S. rail system; and
22 WHEREAS, a new wave of railroad industry consolidation could divert man-
23 agement attention and resources from successful execution of recent rail merg-
24 ers; and
25 WHEREAS, another wave of railroad industry consolidation before shippers
26 are convinced they have received the benefits of the most recent mergers is
27 almost certain to result in calls for increased federal regulation of the
28 industry; and
29 WHEREAS, a significant portion of America's freight rail system could be
30 Canadian-controlled should this transaction be approved; and
31 WHEREAS, approval of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe/Canadian National
32 merger could have a detrimental effect on the U. S. defense transportation
33 network; and
34 WHEREAS, several organizations including the United Transportation Union,
35 Union Pacific Railroad, and Chemical Manufacturers Association have announced
36 their opposition to the proposed Burlington Northern Santa Fe/Canadian
37 National merger; and
38 WHEREAS, jobs, industries and agriculture throughout the state of Idaho
39 could be negatively affected by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe/Canadian
40 National proposal.
41 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
42 sion of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre-
43 sentatives concurring therein, that we have grave concerns about the proposed
44 combination of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe/Canadian National rail systems
2
1 and the resulting effect on interstate commerce.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these concerns be formally transmitted to the
3 federal Surface Transportation Board and to the congressional delegation rep-
4 resenting the state of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is
6 hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the
7 federal Surface Transportation Board in Washington, D.C., and to the congres-
8 sional delegation representing the state of Idaho in the Congress of the
9 United States.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS09944
This Concurrent Resolution would transmit the Idaho Legislature's
concerns on the proposed merger of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and
Canadian National Railroad. The combination of these two major carriers left in
the U.S. and Canada.
Never before in the history of railroading have so many groups rallied forces so
quickly to oppose any merger. North America does not need another rail merger
that will disrupt the shipping of agricultural products and manufactured goods.
FISCAL NOTE
No fiscal impact to the state
CONTACT: Dale Wheeler
467-1572
Charlie Clark
343-1771
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE SCR 144