Illinois labor leader said to be top pick for top FRA post
(Bloomberg News circulated the following story by Angela Greiling Keane on February 9, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. Joseph Szabo, a former Illinois union leader, is President Barack Obamas top candidate to head the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration, two people familiar with the matter said.
Szabo, who until last month was the Illinois state director of the United Transportation Union, is being vetted by the Obama administration, and an announcement isnt expected immediately, according to the people, who declined to be identified because the decision isnt final.
The FRA regulates rail safety, including the routing of hazardous shipments and the number of hours train operators may work. The agency pressed for stricter rules and improved braking on locomotives after a crash between freight and commuter trains in Los Angeles last year, which led Congress to pass a law mandating equipment upgrades.
Szabo, 51, has known the president since Obama was a state legislator in Illinois, a person familiar with Szabo said. Szabo is a former freight-rail worker and passenger-rail conductor, according to his union biography. He is on temporary assignment with the union working on rail-safety issues in Washington, the person said.
We dont have anything to confirm at this time, White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said today in an e-mail. His office is not commenting on speculation, he said.
Szabo didnt immediately return a call seeking comment, and the United Transportation Union wouldnt comment on whether Szabo would be picked.
The decision on nomination is one for the Obama team, said Frank Wilner, a spokesman.
The FRA is responsible for overseeing the installation of so-called positive control systems by 2015 for trains operating on major routes, as required by last years rail-safety law. The technology is designed to halt trains before a collision.
The agency was previously led by Joseph Boardman, who is now serving as Amtraks chief executive officer. He had been transportation commissioner for the state of New York before leading the FRA.
That would be a wild change, a union leader in charge of the FRA instead of some business guy. The RR's might be shitting themselves about now. What's the bio on this guy as far as being in the UTU? Is he a criminal like most of the higher ups in my opinion, or is he for real?
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