I watched the whole thing. Clearly the R's , except for those on the SW Chief route, are longing for the slash-and-burn days of Richard Anderson and John Mica of the national network and its amenities to assist in the process. I think it was Rep. Williams, who was part of the shenaigans, is from Syracuse, yet claimed he is from the NEC.
The bonus bashing (by the R's) and its supporters (the D's) focused on the wrong aspect. While hell bent on it occuring at all for a deficit operation or praising it to retain top management, no one would focus on its criteria, which lacks revenue goals on the national network. Nothing on reduced consists, parked equipment, nor abandoment of the Amtrak Express package service.
While I don't like Gardner in general, he could have done far worse. He did not take the Republican bait about the long distance trains causing the entire operating deficit, nor the food service deficit, saying it is an expected amenity and partially supported by ticket revenue. He and Walker kept stating the NEC once made a $500 million profit, but that depended on annual capital infusions. Nobody seems to get that Apporopriation commitees do not care - it is scored as OMB as money out the door regardless.
Zero focus on Amtrak's creative accounting and bogus cost allocations producing desired results.
