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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Politics of derailment

The Democrats have their nerve. Just because fatalities occurred in the May 12 Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia, they shamelessly seized the opportunity to propose additional federal spending to improve Amtrak passenger safety, deliberately using the tragedy to advance their liberal spending agenda.

I’m with Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, who in voting down the proposal pointed to a Democratic colleague and simpered, “Shame on you.” He knows, along with all good Republicans, that the best way to derail Hillary Clinton next year is to saddle President Obama now with every disaster known to man, from Bush’s Iraq War to colony bee collapse to Amtrak.

Besides, neither Simpson nor I are planning to take Amtrak any time soon. So, all together now, shame on the Democrats for playing politics.

Bill Leong

Spokane

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