Koch Brothers Group Opposes New Rail Safety Bill

The Hill reports:

A conservative advocacy group is pushing lawmakers to oppose a bipartisan rail safety bill that was introduced in the wake of the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, claiming it would create “gross inefficiencies” for businesses and give the Department of Transportation “unimaginable authority.”

“Introduced following the horrible accident in East Palestine, Ohio, the legislation offers a slew of significant new regulations that would do little to improve safety while creating gross inefficiencies for thousands of businesses,” FreedomWorks said in a letter to lawmakers on Monday.

FreedomWorks instead suggested that lawmakers focus on “recovery for the people of East Palestine” and ensure “Norfolk Southern makes good on their commitments,” while waiting for more information from the National Transportation Safety Board on the derailment.

Read the full article.

FreedomWorks last appeared here when it was revealed that they had paid former Trump acting AG Matt Whitaker $400,000 to lobby Trump for “pardons and commutations.”

FreedomWorks was founded by the Koch Brothers in 2003 and was once headed by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, who gave the group its name.

Photo: Adam Brandon, FreedomWorks president.

Conservative group pushes back on bipartisan rail safety bill https://t.co/FtyBpHMZjl pic.twitter.com/z8xIVtYq2u

— The Hill (@thehill) March 14, 2023