Republican U.S. Senate candidate Matt Dolan speaks to supporters during his primary election returns gathering, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Independence, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Many Republicans in Ohio have been openly critical of Norfolk Southern over the company’s actions that led to the derailment in East Palestine last month, despite taking money from the rail juggernaut for reelection bids.

Ohio state Sen. Matt Dolan (R), a declared U.S. Senate candidate for 2024, has used his social media to commit to East Palestine’s recovery and criticize Norfolk Southern for not doing enough to help the get “tangible results.”

Despite these words, Dolan has taken thousands from Norfolk Southern for his election bids, and he accepted a $1,000 donation as recently as last September, according to the FEC.

Similarly, U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson (R) of Ohio’s 8th Congressional district slammed Norfolk’s CEO Alan Shaw for not taking ownership of the train derailment, despite taking thousands from a Norfolk lobbyist as recently as 2021. Ohio Secretary of State and former Chairman of Ohio’s Senate Transportation Committee Frank LaRose (R) has also taken thousands from Norfolk Southern.

The highly publicized 150-car freight train derailment saw hazardous chemicals like vinyl chloride and phosgene exposed to the environment. Norfolk Southern has come under scrutiny for their part in blocking safety rules and lobbying to reduce federal regulations on trains.  Specifically, the implementation of electronic brake systems seems to be a point of contention, which some argue could help prevent derailments like the one seen in East Palestine.

Despite praising these brake systems when they were invented, Norfolk Southern lobbied hard to stop the federal government from forcing them to outfit their trains with them. The company presumably did this to cut costs. The Obama Administration advocated for universal implementation of electronic controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes, but lobbying efforts by rail companies like Norfolk Southern reduced the regulations on trains carrying hazardous materials until they were completely repealed by the Trump administration in 2018.

Shaw testified in front of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works last Thursday, where he pledged his company’s assistance until the chemicals are fully removed from the area. Hours before the hearing, another Norfolk train derailed in Alabama. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 1,311 train derailments occurred in the U.S. in 2022.