U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) today voted in favor of a measure suggested by Americans through the YouCut website that will save up to $1.2 billion by eliminating taxpayer-funded first-class passenger perks aboard Amtrak trains that include turn-down service, complimentary entertainment and pre-paid food.

American families have been subsidizing first-class travel on Amtrak and this week’s YouCut proposal seeks to eliminate that subsidy and require Amtrak to provide any first-class service at cost. Only 16 percent of Amtrak long-distance passengers opt for “sleeper class” travel, as opposed to coach class. Passengers in long-distance first-class travel are provided with a sleeping room, many with a private toilet and shower. Amtrak loses more than twice as much per passenger, an average of $396, for first-class service as compared to coach class service with the taxpayers picking up the losses.

“At a time when American families are making tough financial decisions, their hard-earned tax dollars should not be used to provide turn-down service and other perks for first-class Amtrak passengers,” Luetkemeyer said. “Taxpayers are asking their elected representatives to get federal spending under control, and I can think of no better way to illustrate that we are listening to their concerns than by cutting taxpayer subsidies for people who travel first-class on Amtrak.”

On the YouCut website each week, Americans have the opportunity to vote on a spending cut and shortly after all the ideas are processed, Luetkemeyer and his colleagues will seek a vote on the most popular spending cut. Luetkemeyer is encouraging folks to visit http://republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut/and help Washington get government spending under control.

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