©2025 League of Conservation Voters
1980 Scorecard Vote
83
296
53
Issues
H.R. 7235. The vote is on the Eckhardt substitute to the Staggers amendment. The Staggers amendment was designed to free the railroads from crippling Interstate Commerce Commission regulations which were making it impossible for them to compete effectively with other modes of transportation. Environmentalists supported deregulation to promote increased use of railroads, because rail travel is the most energy-efficient and least polluting methods for moving the most goods. Nor do railroad lines chew up as much land as highways or barge canals. Yet much of the freight that should ideally go by rail now goes by truck because of ICC regulations that prevent railroads from changing their rates quickly enough to meet changing market conditions. The Staggers amendment was a compromise which kept some ICC restrictions necessary to protect “captive shippers” in those few areas where railroads did enjoy a monopoly. The Administration supported Staggers and opposed Eckhardt. Eckhardt rejected 83-296. September 9, 1980. NO is the correct vote.
©2025 League of Conservation Voters