Posted on 03/03/2011 3:17:16 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott says two state senators suing him because he rejected federal money to build high-speed rail want the court to push their failed policies.
His sometimes stinging response filed Wednesday with the Florida Supreme Court calls them "senators whose policy preferences have not prevailed in the political process."
Republican Thad Altman and Democrat Arthenia Joyner filed the lawsuit Tuesday, saying Scott overstepped his executive authority by killing the project after the Legislature approved it and appropriated money for it.
Oral arguments in the case are set for 3 p.m. today. Both sides have asked the court to rule by Friday. That's the deadline that U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood set for Florida to determine whether the project can go forward. After that, the money will go to other states.
LaHood said Wednesday he has received a half dozen letters from governors or senators who want the $2.4 billion that Scott wants to turn down.
In a 29-page court document filed Wednesday, attorneys for Scott argue that the Legislature appropriated only $131 million for high-speed rail, not the entire $2.4 billion awarded by the federal government.
To fulfill the request made by Altman and Joyner, Scott's attorneys say, would require the court to order the Legislature to appropriate the entire $2.4 billion, order the governor not to veto the legislation, and, if the governor does veto the legislation, not to override the veto.
(Excerpt) Read more at tampabay.com ...
Nice video. Too bad it’s low res.
HSR is yet another scheme for the well connected to drill into taxpayer wallets.
Guess these Senators are NOT good stewards of the citizens money.
This is HORRIBLE!
Just imagine all of the political favors that were promised but can’t be delivered. Think of all of the political contributions (bribes) that were paid to insure that their favorite politician “was in the tank” with the special interests that gave them.
This is just terrible! It might even mean that these corrupt politicians might have to give back some of their campaign money to those “special” contributors. Just horrible...just terrible!
IMO this will be a big case regarding precedent. I have no doubt that a lib judge will try to compel the guvnuh to take all those billions because he is owned by the machine, but in the end, neither the legislature nor judiciary can make the governor take money for anything. That is really simular to obamacare making citizens buy something. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Either side will appeal the judges decision, BTW!
High Speed rail to where?
Why can’t these state senators just go to Disney World and ride the monorail for a day or two?
Into your town, state and pocket. Watch the video.
China and Warren Buffett hope you don't understand this.
Low res? I guess I didn't notice, what with the scam being pulled on everyone.
They've been paid to go to the mat for this.
When you're bought, I guess you stay bought until you get the boot!
: ) *big grin*
I agree.
Walker is holding the line in WI (and with a few wobbly WI GOPs).
Scott is holding the line in FL (and with a few wobbly WI GOPs).
Great post. Thanks for the alert. My guess is that Crist was in on this scheme...
Oral arguments in the case are set for 3 p.m. today. Both sides have asked the court to rule by Friday.
The Supreme Court of Florida should have rejected this entire suit...the question is a POLITICAL one, not a JUDICIAL one.
I hope Scott has a plan to kill this project if the Robed Masters in Black rule against him.
I imagine he was and why he had to twist himself every which way trying to keep political clout to help push this through.
Pam Iorio is really pissing me off. Saw her on the local news this morning pimping this suit. I guess she needs a big cash infusion for her next political campaign and so sees this HSR scam as her meal ticket.
bttt
HSR is about one thing and one thing only: The control of the sheep[people]. There will be a few politically connected individuals that will make[steal] a lot of taxpayer money. But initial and main thrust is the control of the sheep by the politicans. Communisism or Socialism comes to mind.
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