Capito discusses Ohio train derailment, term limits proposal

WASHINGTON — A West Virginia senator Thursday said she has been in contact with the president and CEO of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad over the train derailment at East Palestine, Ohio.

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she spoke with Alan Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern, about the dangers and what happened.

The community of Chester, W.Va., is about 15 miles from the crash site and controlled burn of the suspected carcinogen vinyl chloride.

“I think it’s been very difficult for the residents of that area, but I also want to make sure the air is safe and those who have been affected are being paid attention to, which I believe that they have,” Capito said.

She spoke to West Virginia press at a briefing from Washington. Congressional term limits may be taken up by the Senate, she said.

“I think we’re probably going to have a vote on term limits,” Capito said.

The U.S. Constitution does not restrict the number of terms a senator or representative can serve. Presidents are limited to two terms.

Capito said she has in the past been generally opposed to term limits. Among the reasons is the loss of institutional knowledge and how things are done, she said.

Citizens have the ability to limit a senator’s or representative’s term at an election by voting them out of office, Capito said. Senators serve six-year terms and representatives are elected to two-year terms.

“They have the ability to do that at the ballot box,” she said.

A bill to limit senators and representatives to two terms and three terms, respectively, was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ted. Cruz, R-Texas, who announced in November he was running for a third term.

Capito also briefly touched on several issues during the briefing, including President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday.

While the president didn’t give “a very united speech,” Capito hopes to work with the administration to curb the influx of the narcotic fentanyl.

“We look forward to working with him on that,” she said.

Republicans will work to rein in regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency, including defining Waters of the U.S., federal spending and inflation and the economy.

Perhaps a recession is coming this year, Capito said. Large companies are laying off workers, she said.

“I certainly hope we get by without a recession,” she said.