Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement regarding this week’s YouCut vote to save taxpayers up to $1.2 billion over ten years by prohibiting taxpayer subsidies for first-class tickets on Amtrak.

“For the eighth time in the last two months, House Democrats killed a common sense YouCut proposal to stop wasting taxpayer money,” said Congressman Price. “Just these eight opportunities alone add up to more than $120 billion in potential savings. That is fully ten percent of the Democrats’ failed stimulus boondoggle, including interest. We’re talking about real money that taxpayers should not be forced to spend on wasteful government programs like subsidies for first-class Amtrak tickets. Americans have had to tighten their belts in this recession, and many are struggling to pay their own bills. Let’s not add insult to injury by forcing them to pick up the tab for someone else’s first-class train ticket.”

Note: While only 16 percent of Amtrak long-distance passengers opt for “sleeper class” travel, as opposed to coach class, federal taxpayers provide substantial extra subsidies for this first-class travel. Passengers in long-distance first class travel are provided a sleeping room, many with a private toilet and shower, turn-down service, and complimentary entertainment and pre-paid food. Yet, Amtrak loses more than twice as much per passenger (an average of $396) for first-class service as compared to coach-class service. These losses are made up by taxpayers. This proposal would eliminate subsidies for first-class service and require Amtrak to provide any first class service at cost.