Residents of East Palestine, Ohio and much of the surrounding area remain quite concerned in the aftermath of a toxic train derailment more than two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is handling it in a familiar bureaucratic way and the media will help frame the situation for this administration:
You gotta love the framing. https://t.co/D1Q7URpIC1
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) February 20, 2023
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg calls out the rail operator at the center of a hazardous train derailment in Ohio. https://t.co/Z6vHumcamv
— ABC News (@ABC) February 20, 2023
Ah yes, a “sharply worded letter” should contribute to the solution (that combined with a Biden visit to Ukraine):
A sharply worded letter!! That will bring Norfolk Southern to heel.
— MaryVal (@MaryVal) February 20, 2023
"Sharply worded letter." https://t.co/R8JCbvbWca
— 🇺🇲🇮🇹RockyMtnRenegade 🇮🇹🇺🇲 (@MagnumO28311564) February 20, 2023
Naturally Buttigieg’s letter to the company reserved some blame for the previous administration:
They always get around to framing/blaming Trump. It’s ridiculous they can’t take the situation…as it is…& do something about it. Either taking responsibility for some of their own self inflicted issues/decisions/disasters…or just helping where no one is particularly at fault. https://t.co/iF6qD6Jcb4
— Dr. Jackie (@Dr_J_Whitehead) February 20, 2023
That’s right, Buttigieg’s “sharply worded letter” invoked Trump:
The secretary said he will be laying out new steps for companies to improve safety and plans to urge Congress to raise the cap on fines for those that violate regulations. He also rebuked Norfolk Southern and the industry writ large for their opposition to more stringent safety rules.
“Rather than support these efforts to improve rail safety, Norfolk Southern and other rail companies spent millions of dollars in the courts and lobbying members of Congress to oppose common-sense safety regulations, stopping some entirely and reducing the scope of others,” Buttigieg said, specifically noting the Trump administration’s repeal of a 2015 rule that mandated the use of electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes on train cars.
The chair of the NTSB has called BS on attempts to blame Trump for a train wreck two years into the Biden presidency:
Some are saying the ECP (electronically controlled pneumatic) brake rule, if implemented, would’ve prevented this derailment. FALSE – here’s why…
— Jennifer Homendy (@JenniferHomendy) February 17, 2023
The ECP braking rule would’ve applied ONLY to HIGH HAZARD FLAMMABLE TRAINS. The train that derailed in East Palestine was a MIXED FREIGHT TRAIN containing only 3 placarded Class 3 flammable liquids cars. pic.twitter.com/ReAFDSdsn7
— Jennifer Homendy (@JenniferHomendy) February 17, 2023
This means even if the rule had gone into effect, this train wouldn't have had ECP brakes.
— Jennifer Homendy (@JenniferHomendy) February 17, 2023
That of course won’t stop the Biden administration from trying to deflect any and all blame.
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Related:
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg asks us to remember that trains derail all the time
Pete Buttigieg uses toxic OH derailment to remind us about other great work his dept is doing
Ilhan Omar and Ted Cruz AGREE on need for East Palestine, OH inquiry and Pete Buttigieg can’t DEEEAL
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