No money, no choo-choo's!
Posted on 10/07/2010 12:11:15 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie killed construction of an $8.7 billion rail tunnel under the Hudson River on Thursday, ending what had been the largest transportation project in the U.S. He also urged lawmakers to repurpose the $3 billion in federal money for other transit projects in the state.
Mr. Christie had ordered a 30-day halt on construction work until he could get a reliable cost estimate and determine whether New Jersey could afford its share of the project. At a press conference Thursday, Mr. Christie said the project was estimated to cost at least $11 billion and as much as $14 billion.
The first-year Republican governor said he took no joy in backing away from the support he gave the tunnel during the gubernatorial campaign, but insisted he was left with no choice because of the cost.
"In the end, this decision is a financial decision," Mr. Christie said. "The state simply doesn't have the money."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
No money, no choo-choo's!
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I suspect Governor Christie figured this would turn out to be “Big Dig II”. Good decision.
Bravo Governor Christy, bravo.
I like Gov. Christie a lot.
He may not be a social conservative but wowza, is he a financial conservative or what!!
If we could have three parties in the United States, I would want them as such
Liberal Party (like in Australia, small “l”)
1. Fiscally Conservative
2. Centrist Tax policy
3. Pro USA
4. Inward looking in foreign policy
5. Socially moderate (supports Civil unions but not gay marriage, has infighting on limited abortion rights)
6. More open to immigration but with limits
Conservative Party (Tories)
1. Fiscally Conservative
2. Low Tax policy (uber capitalist)
3. Pro USA
4. Outward looking in foreign policy
5. Socially neutral except on abortion (hard core opposition) and gay marriage (but not opposed or in favor of civil unions)
6. Pro Qualified Immigration (Engineer and doctors)
Christian Democrats
1. Fiscally Conservative
2. Centrist Tax policy
3. Pro USA
4. Inward looking in foreign policy
5. Socially very conservative. No gay rights. No abortion
6. Anti immigration
If we had three parties as above, we would have real choices at the State and Country level and everyone would be Pro USA and Fiscally Conservative and we could genuinely fight the cultural wars, not having to worry about our country getting bankrupted or rolled over
Currently here is the state of our two parties:
Democrat Party
1. Fiscally Insane
2. Punitive Tax policy
3. Anti USA
4. Inward looking in foreign policy
5. Socially out of control(unlimited abortion rights)
6. Out of control on immigration
Republican Party
1. Fiscally Only Slightly Less Insane
2. Centrist Tax policy
3. Pro USA
4. Outward looking in foreign policy
5. Socially moderate
6. Schizo on Immigration. Cannot make up its mind if Qualified Immigrants are better than uncontrolled immigration
They should get it re-bid as a _fixed_ cost project.
No money, no choo-choo's!
Chris Christie has been a very pleasant surprise as New Jersey Governor.
No money, no choo-choo's!
No money for NEW JERSEY choo-choo's.
Too bad, so sad for NJ. C'est la vie.
Give the Money to Atlanta/Chattanooga or Pittsburgh... build a Maglev instead!!!
Good thought however my experience with large and complex capital projects like this is that there will be tons and tons of change orders. You have to have a really good project manager who’s looking out for the owner’s interests and they have to be real pr*cks with the contractor(s). That hardly ever happens and the result is that the final costs are 15 to 20% higher than the supposed firm lump sum bid.
Governor Chris did the right thing here by pulling the plug now.
“Too bad, so sad for NJ.”
Too bad, so sad for NYC. No need to take the train there any more. We all work at home on the internet (unless our job has been sent off to Hyderabad or Bangalore).
it was probably a Teamsters contract, like the Long Island nuclear power plant in the 70’s. They’d build during the day, and then at night tear it down. This kept the money flowing.
Bravo Governor!
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