Gov. Walker vetoes repeal of railroad trespass law

CHamilton · Jul 13, 2015

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has vetoed a provision in the new, two-year state budget that would have repealed a law that prohibited people from trespassing on railroad property.

The railroad industry had raised concerns that repealing the trespassing law would hurt efforts to prevent railroad trespass-related deaths and injuries. The measure was slipped into the state's budget proposal during deliberations last week.

Union Pacific Railroad officials were among those expressing concern about the proposed repeal, particularly at a time when trespass fatalities have increased nationally....
Walker acknowledged the safety concerns in his written veto message.

"I am vetoing this section because I am concerned that allowing people to walk across railroad tracks outside of a designated crossing impairs public safety," the governor said.

Walker signed the state's two-year, $72.7 billion budget during a ceremony held yesterday in Waukesha, Wis., where later today he will formally announce he is a candidate for U.S. president.

Devil's Advocate · Jul 13, 2015

Personally I would like to have this issue studied to see if we can determine why people are putting themselves in a situation where they are likely to be hit by a train. It does not appear that the threat of punishment for trespassing is having much impact in preventing incidents and I doubt anyone is having much luck collecting payments from vegetables or corpses.

railiner · Jul 13, 2015

Good for the Gov.....

Who and why would anyone "slip the repeal" into the budget proposal? :huh:

Eric S · Jul 13, 2015

The state budget, at least in WI, is frequently used to slip in policy items, often without any acknowledgement which legislator did so.

railiner · Jul 13, 2015

So they want to be anonymous? I don't blame them....what possible reason could anyone want to repeal that law?

Possibilities I can imagine......Irresponsible railfan's that want access

PI attorney's looking to fatten their wallets

TinCan782 · Jul 13, 2015

railiner said:
Good for the Gov.....

Who and why would anyone "slip the repeal" into the budget proposal? :huh:

Because that's the way politicians work...slip it in to an unrelated bill and hope its not noticed!

h34r:

Eric S · Jul 13, 2015

I don't know if this particular provision was anonymously inserted, I haven't checked up on that, but some of these non-budgetary/policy provisions slipped into the budget are done so anonymously.