Wisconsin senator introduces rail bill to benefit shippers

Sen. Tammy Baldwin introduced the Rail Shipper Fairness Act, which aims to reduce costs and service problems faced by a broad coalition of Wisconsin rail shippers.    Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., introduced the Rail Shipper Fairness Act, which aims to reduce costs and service problems faced by a broad coalition of Wisconsin rail shippers, including farmers, manufacturers and utilities.
   Casey Kelleher, president of the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, said the legislation “would make much needed reforms to the freight rail industry.”
   Baldwin’s office noted that businesses throughout Wisconsin have endured years of “subpar rail service.” Grain elevators in the state are full due to lack of sufficient rail service to move the grain efficiently to markets. 
   “Several Wisconsin power plants have had to reduce production or shutdown altogether because they can’t get fuel by rail. These shutdowns pass higher rates on to their consumers with electricity costs set to reach their highest levels since 1999,” Baldwin’s office said.
   Specifically, the Rail Shipper Fairness Act increases rail shipping competition, reforms rate case regulations and restructures the Surface Transportation Board. The legislation will require railroads to be more responsive to shippers by honoring their contractual obligations. The bill also includes provisions to implement “competitive switching,” which Baldwin previously called for in a bipartisan letter to the STB.
   Additionally, the proposed legislation would require the STB board to increase from three to five commissioners, two of whom must have experience as a consumer or rail shipper advocate.
   The Rail Shipper Fairness Act is supported by Badger CURE (Wisconsin Consumers United for Rail Equity) a broad coalition of electric power companies, agricultural companies and trade groups, paper and forest products companies, and steel firms.