go21 growth options for the 21st century. go21 mission national, nonprofit grassroots organization ...

Go21Growth Options for the 21st Century

Go21 Mission

National, nonprofit grassroots organization

Supporting legislation to expand rail capacity

Opposing bills that would shrink capacity

Building public support in 30 states

GoRail program mobilizes rail employees, retirees, and fans

AASHTO Freight Rail Bottom Line Report

67% Increase Over 20 Years

2000 Congestion

Projected 2020 Congestion

Public Benefits of Rail

Less highway congestion• 1 intermodal train = 280 trailers = 1000+ autos

Greater fuel efficiency• 1 ton of cargo, over 430 miles, 1 gallon of fuel• 3 times more efficient that highway transport

Cleaner air• 6 to 12 times fewer pollutants

Public investment is responsible public policy• Industry is stable, productive, and competitive• Efficient use of tax dollars

Investment Tax Incentives

25% credit for new infrastructure investment• “Track where no track has gone before”• E.g., double and triple track, intermodal facilities, spurs,

and tunnel upgrades

Deduction for other capital expenditures

Shippers and other businesses eligible for tax incentive

Deregulation Has Been Good for Businesses and the Public

0

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

1964 1969 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005

Productivity

Volume

Revenue

Price

Source: Association of American Railroads

Our ChoiceOur Choice

509,000 more trucks

$492 billion cost to highway users

$21 billion cost to taxpayers

$326 billion cost to shippers

365,000 fewer trucks

$635 billion highway user savings

$27 billion taxpayer savings

$401 billion shipper savings

?

Community Organizing - Missouri

Targeting&

Outreach

Grass Top Action

DirectContact Results

• Call/e-mail 300

community leaders

• 150 meetings

• 102 letters to

Congress

Rep. Neal St. Onge

Transportation Committee Chair

• 5 Cosponsors:

Rep. Akin

Rep. Carnahan

Rep. Clay

Rep. Cleaver

Rep. Graves

• calls & meetings

with entire MO

delegation

2007 Accomplishments

1,938 grass top letters to Congress

240 grass top phone calls

338 meetings with members of Congress and senior staff

62 published letters to editors

GoRail: Activating the Industry

Over 40,000 members recruited at rail facilities or electronically

Grassroots e-mails, letters, and calls to Congress • 18,000 e-mails to Congress in 4th quarter 2007 alone

Deepening commitment• Regular e-newsletters• “Win a Trip” essay contest• Political Training Academy

The Bottom Line

Only 6 of 154 House targets have cosponsored reregulation bill

29 House targets have cosponsored tax incentive legislation

House Targets - June 2007

House Targets – February 2008

Commerce Committee Targets

Sen. Boxer (D-CA) Sen. Carper (D-DE) Sen. DeMint (R-SC) Sen. Kerry (D-MA) Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ) Sen. McCaskill (D-MO) Sen. Pryor (D-AR)

Grassroots Programs in 2008

Reactivate existing supporters and recruit more• More letters, calls, and e-mails• More earned media

Bring 30 key supporters to DC for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill

Be ready with “rapid response” for mark up of the reregulation bill

Recruit 25 additional cosponsors for tax incentive bill

How You Can Help

Register at www.gorail.org

Write, call, and e-mail

Recruit others

Refer businesses• Dan Gurley, dgurley@go21.org