Bill Shuster: “I cannot tell you how deeply disappointed I am that I believed we had a deal. We had a very delicate compromise in which…”

“I cannot tell you how deeply disappointed I am that I believed we had a deal. We had a very delicate compromise in which everybody gave up something: the shippers, the carriers, all interested parties. In fact, while the shippers were very much opposed to retaining antitrust immunity, this is in the bill. They swallowed hard. On the other hand, in exchange for their swallowing hard, private contracts were permitted, private contracts which are at the heart of the Staggers Act, in the railroad industry, are permitted with rail; private contracts between shippers and carriers which are permitted in the trucking industry. Indeed, one of the essential parts of deregulation is to permit private contracts between shippers and carriers, and indeed, that was part of the deal.”