The long-awaited $7 billion renovation and potential expansion of Penn Station will be overseen by Amtrak after the U.S. Department of Transportation announced last evening the project would be taken out of the hands of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Robert Brodsky reports in NEWSDAY that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said shifting the project from the MTA to Amtrak, which owns the 114-year-old Penn Station, would save taxpayers approximately $120 million."President Trump has made it clear: the days of reckless spending and blank checks are over," Duffy said in a statement. "New York City deserves a Penn Station that reflects America’s greatness and is safe and clean. The MTA’s history of inefficiency, waste, and mismanagement also meant that a new approach is needed."Amtrak has been pushing a plan to expand Penn Station, potentially by acquiring the block south of it and building new tracks underground.It was not immediately clear how the Trump administration envisions a new Penn Station or which, if any, of several competing ideas for a station expansion and overhaul it would support.In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has been feuding with the Trump administration over the congestion pricing program launched in January, fashioned the change as a policy victory for the state, which would reduce its own investment into the project."In multiple meetings with President Trump, I requested that the federal government fund the long-overdue overhaul of Penn Station," Hochul said. "Clearly that effort has been successful, and I want to thank the President and Secretary Duffy for taking on the sole responsibility to deliver the beautiful new $7 billion station that New Yorkers deserve. This is a major victory for New Yorkers, and the use of federal funds will save New York taxpayers $1.3 billion dollars that would have otherwise been necessary for this project."MTA chairman and CEO Janno Lieber in a statement said he's glad the federal government is prioritizing the reconstruction of Penn Station but insists the city's transit agency should continue to play a role moving forward."Over a hundred million MTA customers — two-thirds of Penn Station’s total ridership — use the facility every year," Lieber said. "As the major leaseholder in the station, we expect to participate in the administration’s and Amtrak’s efforts to ensure future plans meet the needs of everyone who uses it."***Rep. Nick LaLota of the 1st Congressional District…which includes the East End…, Rep. Andrew Garbarino of the 2nd Congressional District…also in Suffolk County… and 10 other House Republicans wrote to their leadership Wednesday to express support for Medicaid and object to steep cuts in funding for the healthcare program that serves nearly 80 million lower-income Americans.“Balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of those who depend on these benefits for their health and economic security. We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations,” per the letter from these dozen House Republicans.Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved a budget framework bill that could mean significant cuts to Medicaid. The bill instructed the House Energy &amp; Commerce Committee (which has jurisdiction over Medicaid) to reduce the federal deficit by at least $880 billion over 10 years. Democrats argue that Medicaid is the only place where cuts at that level could be made. GOP leaders have said Medicaid will be reformed to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse, but will not be significantly cut. On Wednesday, Congressman LaLota stated, “Medicaid is a vital safety net that provides health care to millions of low-income Americans, including children, seniors,...

Amtrak to take over finishing renovations of Penn Station