Taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook

If U.S. Rep. Lipinski has "stayed silent on the issue so far" why does he comment in this (June 18) article that negotiations will determine now much CN will do to "help alleviate some of the issues" (to be) caused by the proposed transaction?

Are we taxpayers to infer from this comment that any portion of an obligation to pay for impacts is ours? The Surface Transportation Board has not yet even finished its study. What negotiations is he referring to and why would an elected representative imply that we have any obligations, financial or otherwise to support this acquisition?

Robert D. Webb

Ela Township

Barrington