Latest news with #ScottJensen
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shippers line up against railroad mergers
Groups representing rail shippers say they would be opposed to the creation of a transcontinental railroad in the U.S., arguing that further consolidation in the industry would reduce their competitive options, lead to higher rates, and worsen service. Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) and Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) announced Tuesday that they had come to an agreement for UP to acquire NS for stock and cash worth $85 billion. It's further expected that BNSF and CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) for competitive reasons would eventually pursue a similar agreement. The National Industrial Transportation League, the American Chemistry Council, and the Freight Rail Customer Alliance are watching warily as a final round of mergers would leave the U.S. with a pair of transcontinental Class I systems. Railroads have traditionally said that end-to-end mergers help improve service by eliminating costly and unreliable interchanges. Shipper associations don't see it that way. 'NITL has been on the record wanting no more rail mergers,' said Nancy O'Liddy, the group's executive director. 'Generally shippers oppose continued consolidation in the rail industry based on past experiences resulting in increased rates, higher fees, and unreliable service.' Scott Jensen, a spokesman for the American Chemistry Council, said chemical manufacturers would 'oppose any merger that would boost railroad monopoly power.' Chemical shippers are highly reliant on railroads for the shipment of hazardous materials as well as plastics and other petrochemical products. 'Our industry is one of the largest users of the U.S. freight rail system, and we need efficient and reliable service to deliver products that make people's lives better, healthier, and safer,' Jensen said. 'The four largest freight railroads already control more than 90% of U.S. rail traffic, with two dominating in the eastern U.S. and two dominating in the west. A merger between two of these railroads threatens to leave American manufacturers, farmers, and energy producers with even fewer options to ship by rail.' The Freight Rail Customer Alliance, an umbrella group that includes trade associations representing 3,500 companies in the manufacturing, agricultural, alternative fuels, and electric utility sectors, said railroads already have too much market power. Railroads are able to use that market power to force shippers into contracts, which fall outside of the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board, said Ann Warner, the FRCA's executive director. The STB can only regulate shipments that move under tariff rates, which are typically more expensive than contracts. Shippers have not seen the benefits of efficiencies that railroads have gained through the spread of the low-cost Precision Scheduled Railroading operating model, Warner added. Railroad profits keep rising, she said, despite the industry losing market share to trucks. The devil will be in the details of a merger application, such as what concessions the railroads may be willing to make to enhance competition, which is required under the STB's tougher and untested 2001 merger review rules. 'NITL shipper members will have to see if an application(s) is filed and then what is offered and what the STB might prescribe and what enforcement mechanisms are put in place,' O'Liddy said. 'All freight rail shippers need guaranteed competitive solutions.' In prior mergers, regulators have imposed conditions to protect shippers who otherwise would see their options shrink from two railroads to one. In many instances that has meant giving a second railroad trackage rights and access to affected customers. Analysts have speculated that some form of expanded reciprocal switching, which provides sole-served customers with access to a second railroad, may be a potential way to enhance competition for carload shippers — and therefore help a merger application meet regulatory hurdles. FRCA's Warner said many of the group's members rely on unit train service, which has not benefited much from reciprocal switching. A majority of shippers who responded to a survey by Wall Street firm TD Cowen said they would back a transcon merger, so long as it included significant concessions. Shippers said their support would hinge on gaining things such as access to a second railroad, rate case reform, and provisions that would force railroads to pay penalties for service failures. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your Pacific and Norfolk Southern reach $85 billion merger deal First look: Norfolk Southern earnings Bill aims to prioritize rail freight, untangle congestion The post Shippers line up against railroad mergers appeared first on FreightWaves. 擷取數據時發生錯誤 登入存取你的投資組合 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican who lost to Tim Walz in 2022 announces another Minnesota gubernatorial bid
Former Minnesota state Sen. Dr. Scott Jensen, the Republican who lost the state's 2022 gubernatorial contest to incumbent Gov. Tim Walz, has announced another bid for the governorship. "Two decades of liberal policies have made Minnesota too expensive, too dangerous, and thrown our culture outta whack. Tim Walz made it worse. A leader must take responsibility. Tim Walz didn't. And so he shouldn't be governor," Jensen said in a campaign video posted on Thursday. Then-former President Donald Trump endorsed Jensen before the Minnesotan lost in the 2022 gubernatorial contest. 21 Democrats Who May Try To Succeed Trump In The 2028 Presidential Election "Minnesota finally has a chance to have a great Governor. His name is Dr. Scott Jensen, the Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, and he will bring Minnesota back from the brink," Trump said in an October 2022 Truth Social post. "Strong on both fighting Crime and delivering Solid and Sensible Education, the results will be quickly seen - and there won't be any more fiery takeovers of police precincts. Minnesota will be Great Again. Dr. Scott Jensen has my Complete and Total Endorsement!" he continued. Read On The Fox News App Walz Urges Democrats To 'Be A Little Meaner,' 'Bully The S--t' Out Of Trump: 'A Challenging Few Years' Walz, who is currently serving his second consecutive term, could run again next year since the state does not have a gubernatorial term limit. Minnesota Republican Announces Campaign For Governor, Vows To 'Fix' What Tim Walz 'Broke' Walz served as then-Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate last year during the 2024 presidential article source: Republican who lost to Tim Walz in 2022 announces another Minnesota gubernatorial bid
Fox News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Republican who lost to Tim Walz in 2022 announces another Minnesota gubernatorial bid
Print Close By Alex Nitzberg Published July 18, 2025 Former Minnesota state Sen. Dr. Scott Jensen, the Republican who lost the state's 2022 gubernatorial contest to incumbent Gov. Tim Walz, has announced another bid for the governorship. "Two decades of liberal policies have made Minnesota too expensive, too dangerous, and thrown our culture outta whack. Tim Walz made it worse. A leader must take responsibility. Tim Walz didn't. And so he shouldn't be governor," Jensen said in a campaign video posted on Thursday. Then-former President Donald Trump endorsed Jensen before the Minnesotan lost in the 2022 gubernatorial contest. 21 DEMOCRATS WHO MAY TRY TO SUCCEED TRUMP IN THE 2028 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION "Minnesota finally has a chance to have a great Governor. His name is Dr. Scott Jensen, the Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, and he will bring Minnesota back from the brink," Trump said in an October 2022 Truth Social post. "Strong on both fighting Crime and delivering Solid and Sensible Education, the results will be quickly seen - and there won't be any more fiery takeovers of police precincts. Minnesota will be Great Again. Dr. Scott Jensen has my Complete and Total Endorsement!" he continued. WALZ URGES DEMOCRATS TO 'BE A LITTLE MEANER,' 'BULLY THE S--T' OUT OF TRUMP: 'A CHALLENGING FEW YEARS' Walz, who is currently serving his second consecutive term, could run again next year since the state does not have a gubernatorial term limit. MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR, VOWS TO 'FIX' WHAT TIM WALZ 'BROKE' CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Walz served as then-Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate last year during the 2024 presidential election. Print Close URL
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican Scott Jensen announces second run for Minnesota governor
Jul. 17—By Ryan Faircloth, Star Tribune (TNS) Former GOP gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen announced Thursday he is running for governor again. In his campaign announcement, the Chaska physician and former state senator said he wants to bring Minnesota back to "the days when our communities were safe, our schools were strong, and our leaders put people — not politics — first." "Two decades of liberal policies have made Minnesota too expensive, too dangerous and thrown our culture out of whack. Tim Walz made it worse," Jensen said in a video announcing his campaign. Jensen rose to prominence in the state Republican Party during the COVID-19 pandemic as an outspoken skeptic of death counts, vaccines and mask mandates. He ran against Walz in 2022 and lost by nearly 8 percentage points, drawing fewer votes than the GOP's candidates for attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor. Walz hasn't formally announced if he'll run for re-election next year. But in an interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune last week, he was bullish about his chances. "If we run again, we will win," Walz said. "I have the capacity to ramp up a campaign that would be bigger than anything that they would see." Jensen joins Republican Kendall Qualls as the only prominent Republicans to enter the 2026 race for governor so far. Qualls, an Army veteran and former health care executive, also campaigned for governor in 2022 but narrowly lost the GOP endorsement to Jensen. Other Republicans are rumored to be eyeing the race, including state Rep. Kristin Robbins and attorney Chris Madel.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dr. Scott Jensen announces run for MN governor in 2026
The Brief Dr. Scott Jensen is announcing another run for Minnesota governor in 2026. Dr. Jensen was defeated by 7.7 points in 2022 by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Gov. Walz has not yet announced if he is running for another term as governor. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Dr. Scott Jensen announced another run for governor of Minnesota. Dr. Scott Jensen running for governor again Big picture view Dr. Jensen spoke about the rising cost of living in Minnesota and said he aims to lower prices while promoting law and order in a campaign announcement video posted Thursday morning, Gov. Walz beat Dr. Jensen by about 193,000 votes, 7.7 points, in 2022. Jensen served a single term in the Minnesota Senate before he ran for governor. Jensen on the issues Dig deeper The campaign website shows Dr. Jensen's "priorities reflect a commitment to law and order, patient-centered healthcare, and a future where families and communities thrive." Dr. Jensen's previous campaign also focused on rising crime rates, inflation and education. He previously said he planned to appoint judges who hand down longer sentences to stop the "catch and release" of violent criminals. In his campaign announcement video, Dr. Jensen said he is running for Governor "to bring our Minnesota back." "Two decades of liberal policies have made Minnesota too expensive, too dangerous, and thrown our culture out of whack," Dr. Jensen said in the campaign announcement video. "Tim Walz made it worse. A leader must take responsibility. Tim Walz didn't." After losing the 2022 race, Dr. Jensen, said the GOP must "change its stance" on the abortion issue in order to win Minnesota statewide elections. Speaking to FOX 9 from his family medical practice in Watertown, Dr. Jensen said, "The hardline position on abortion isn't going to win. So, if that's where a group of people say that's where we have to stay, and we have to do everything we can to ban abortions legally, completely, I think that there's no way we win." While trying to win the GOP endorsement, Jensen said he would try to ban abortion. He later shifted his stance, but Democrats spent millions of dollars on television attack ads using his previous comments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jensen was widely criticized for comparing lockdowns and vaccine restrictions to the rise of Hitler. He was also investigated by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice over claims of spreading misinformation about COVID-19. The other side There are three other GOP candidates who announced they are running for governor: Kendall Qualls, Brad Kohler and Phillip Parrish. Gov. Walz has not yet announced if he will run again. The Source This story uses information from a video announcement shared by Dr. Scott Jensen and past FOX 9 reporting.
