UTU, TCU VOTED 'BEST' AT LOBBYING CONGRESS (The Hill newspaper, which reports on behind the scenes congressional matters, such as lobbying, and which is read in every congressional office, has identified the UTU and Transportation Communications Union as the two most effective rail-labor lobbying groups. The determination of lobbying effectiveness is based upon interviews with lawmakers, senior congressional staff and so-called "Washington insiders." No other rail labor union was mentioned. Also identified in the Feb. 2 issue of The Hill are the most effective carrier lobbyists.) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The railroad industry has enjoyed several good years on the lobbying front. The 2001 Railroad Retirement reform bill was a boon to both industry and labor groups. Such successes are not surprising, given the depth of experience of railroad lobbyists, many of whom have been in Washington for decades representing one of the oldest of D.C. lobbies. Union Pacific, Mary McAuliffe: "There are two railroads with a strong presence in Washington, Union Pacific and the others," quipped a railroad industry insider. UP's political action committee towers above the rest of the industry, giving more than $1 million to federal candidates in the last election cycle. McAuliffe has "numerous personal relationships and broad reach with staff accumulated over the years," a fellow lobbyist said. United Transportation Union, James Brunkenhoefer: The UTU represents 60,000 U.S. railroad workers -- about a third of the total of U.S. railroad workers -- making it a powerful ally or adversary in legislative battles. Brunkenhoefer is known ubiquitously as "Broken Rail," a nickname he received his first day on the job in a Beaumont, Texas, railroad yard. He is a "legend in his own time," one industry colleague said. Association of American Railroads, Ed Hamberger, Obie O'Bannon: AAR is the trade group for much of the rail industry, representing both freight rail companies and Amtrak, which is barred from doing its own lobbying. Hamberger and O'Bannon are industry veterans who have done a good job forming alliances with other industries and with unions, sources said. BNSF Railway, Arthur "Skip" Endres: Endres played a prominent role in securing government approval of the mid-'90s merger between the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroads. He "knows a lot of members and is knowledgeable on the issues," a source said. Norfolk Southern, John Corcoran: With UP, BNSF and CSX, Norfolk Southern is one of the big four American freight rail companies. Corcoran "has lots of members of the House and Senate that he can literally pick up the phone and talk to," said an industry lobbyist. Transportation Communications International Union, Bob Davis, Tony Padilla: The TCU represents about 40,000 railroad workers, including clerks, yard workers and office workers. Davis, who was originally a clerk, has been a member of the union since 1974 and came to Washington from Chicago two years ago. Padilla started as an Amtrak worker. CN Railway, Karen Borlaug Phillips: CN is a Canadian company represented by Phillips, a former aide to then-Sen. Bob Packwood (R-Ore.) and member of the Surface Transportation Board. CSX, Mike Ruehling: Although Ruehling is relatively new to his post, CSX has broad reach in Washington. Treasury Secretary John Snow used to be CEO. Another alum is Mike Smythers, who now lobbies the Senate for the White House. Ruehling himself got a good spot inside the Beltway, having bought a house next door to UP's McAuliffe in Alexandria. American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, Richard Timmons: The short-line association and Timmons, a retired three-star general, can toot their horn over the rail-infrastructure tax credit, a significant benefit for their industry enacted last fall with the corporate tax bill. Chambers Conlon & Hartwell, Ray Chambers: Representing a number of smaller railroads, Chambers is a "visionary in the industry; he thinks about 15 years ahead of everyone else," one colleague said. (The preceding article was published by The Hill newspaper.) -