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Apparently, the money for the train to Vegas was not specifically spelled out in he stimulus bill, but instead was left open for competitive projects, much like the transportation grant and reinvestment act that Patty Murray proposed for a coal terminal in WA State, for the company that employs her husband.

In a town that loves to connect the dots, the funding increase raised suspicions that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who played a key role in writing the bill, pushed for it in order to promote home-state interests, namely the Anaheim-to-Las Vegas project.

"Tell me how spending $8billion in this bill to have a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is going to help the construction worker in my district," House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio said as he and all his fellow Republicans voted against the stimulus. Republicans cited the rail project in accusing Democrats of breaking their word to keep the bill free of pet projects.

A Reid spokesman said the money was not being earmarked for any specific project but would be available on a competitive basis. "This was a major priority for President [Barack] Obama, and Sen. Reid as a conferee supported it," said Jon Summers.

"It's not just specifically for us," said Bruce Aguilera, chairman of the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission, which plans to seek funding for the $12 billion to $14 billion project.

Proposals for magnetic levitation trains that could travel 300 m.p.h. and whisk passengers between Anaheim and Las Vegas in 86 minutes have been floated for decades as a way to ease traffic on Interstate Highway 15 and reduce pollution -- and, of course, help the Las Vegas economy. The project's boosters hope the stimulus money will help get it moving.

A number of high-speed rail projects have been proposed nationwide and are expected to compete for funds.