Letter: Campaign funding hinders safety

Sensible regulations could have prevented the Norfolk Southern train derailment and spill of toxic chemicals in Ohio near the Pennsylvania border and many of the other over 1,000 train derailments every year.

Any community near railroad tracks could be next.

After the Obama administration proposed improved train braking systems, the railroad industry lobbied against it as too expensive and contributed $6 million to Republican candidates in 2016. President Donald Trump repealed the brake rule and the Biden administration did not restore it.

Norfolk Southern recently reported record profits as its rate of accidents increased in each of the last four years.

"For years the railroads have fought all kinds of basic safety regulations - modern braking systems, stronger tank cars for explosive materials, even information about what's in trains passing through communities - based on an argument that it simply costs too much to protect our lives, health, and our air and water," said Kristen Boyles of Earthjustice, an environmental group.

Politicians should not be funded by those they regulate. It is clearly conflict of interest. If we want sound regulations that protect the public, we must have public funding of election campaigns so debate is fair and government decisions are based strictly on merit.

Richard Barsanti

Western Springs