Union Pacific Seeks Veto of Trespassing Repeal Measure in Wisconsin's Budget
"Union Pacific and the entire rail industry urge Gov. Scott Walker to veto this attempt to repeal Wisconsin's railroad trespass law and help keep Wisconsin citizens and our employees safe," Donna Kush, vice president public affairs for UP’s northern region, wrote in a July 10 op-ed for the Wisconsin State Journal.
Union Pacific Railroad is urging Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to veto a section of the budget bill now on his desk because it would repeal Wisconsin's railroad trespass law. Several recent tweets concerning the repeal measure are on UP's Twitter page, and Donna Kush, vice president public affairs for the company's northern region, wrote a July 10 op-ed for the Wisconsin State Journal about it.
"Language slipped into the state budget would repeal Wisconsin's railroad trespass law. If signed into law, it would place Wisconsin residents in danger," Kush wrote. "The most troubling railroad safety problem -- trespass fatalities -- arises from factors outside railroad control. While railroads have reduced employee casualty rates by 84 percent since 1980, and derailments have dropped 82 percent since 1980 to a new low, trespass fatalities are up. In the past five years, Union Pacific alone has experienced eight trespasser injuries and 10 trespasser fatalities on Union Pacific property in Wisconsin. Repealing or relaxing this statute could bring unintended consequences of increasing rail trespassing incidents. It is regressive on the positive rail safety efforts taken to date. Trespassing is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America. The impact of one death is far reaching. It is heartbreaking for family and friends. It is also devastating for the train crew who were forced to witness the tragedy.
"Union Pacific and the entire rail industry urge Gov. Scott Walker to veto this attempt to repeal Wisconsin's railroad trespass law and help keep Wisconsin citizens and our employees safe," she added.
Walker tweeted July 11, "We will make several line-item vetoes but overall budget is good." Another tweet by the governor on July 12 indicated he would sign the budget that day, Sunday.