HB 1086 MC - An Act to Establish the North Carolina and South Carolina Rail Compact

This bill would create the South Carolina and North Carolina Interstate Freight Rail Compact Commission, which would be tasked with developing a plan to construct, operate and finance rail service involving southeast regions of NC and northeast regions of SC. The Commission, made up of unelected political appointees, would be granted the power to spend taxpayer dollars to purchase any railroad lines determined by the Commission to be in the economic development interests of the counties in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. Civitas believes the conservative position is that government should not be involved in the ownership and/or operation of rail lines, and that unelected political appointees should not be granted the power to spend taxpayer funds to acquire private property. The Conservative Vote Is No.