Posted on 02/22/2019 6:54:44 AM PST by Moonman62
The $2.5 billion has already been spent — but California has failed to deliver the high-speed rail (on time, or at all) as promised.
Therefore, the Trump administration argues, the state has to repay federal taxpayers.
The Los Angeles Times quoted Stanford law professor David Freeman Engstrom, a Stanford law professor, describing Trump’s effort as a “nuclear option.”
The practice of recovering money after a breach of contract, while common in the private sector, was virtually unheard of in government, he explained.
“There is a reluctance to penalize misspending by local government agencies. … Almost never do those violations result in terminations, in part because federal agencies are set up to distribute money, not take it back, and they also lack funding for strict grant enforcement,” the Times added.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Gee, I wonder what we could use that money for?
Let me think...
A good opportunity to demand an accounting for the (ab)use of the $2.5 Billion.
Like other Democrat Debacles, follow the money to see which Democrat cronies had their wallets fattened....like Solyndra.
The Fed money was from taxes every other state gave. CA scrapped a good 75% of the project only pushing forward 25% of the project but kept 100% of the funding.
Fully support Trump taking back all he can get back.
The question is, what did they spend it on? A lot of the funds probably went to “projects” othen than the high speed rail. Many related financial records will be conveniently “lost”.
If Trump had a forensic audit of who actually received that Federal subsidy, most of his California Democratic political enemies would be facing hard Federal prison time.
Git ‘em Trump. Skin ‘em.
Tell California that it can have the $, but only if it’s a one way train down to Mexico that only illegal aliens are allowed to ride.
Who has the money? It wasn’t used for this boondoggle, so someone or something has it. Check the CA Democrat Party’s bank records.
This is not Obama’s government, where his cronies in the “green energy” business could walk away with billions and never produce a kilowatt of energy. Much of that money went to the Democrat party to get Hillary elected, another massive boondoggle.
“The practice of recovering money after a breach of contract, while common in the private sector, was virtually unheard of in government, he explained.”
It’s high time it become so.
Dems could not be reached for comment...too busy lawyer/judge shopping.
Frankly, I believe this was the plan all along... and I think Trump believes it too. CA Dems floated this idea of an unworkable rail system as a means to benefit themselves and donors and get extra money from the federal government. I don’t think they ever thought they would get called on this... and if Hillary had won, they wouldn’t have.
Oh no, this could hurt his chances of carrying California in 2020./s
That POS rt 99 is falling apart in California. It runs along the route of the rail boondoggle and is the main artery in the central part of the state. Dumbass Californians.
federal agencies are set up to distribute money, not take it back,
A little off topic but still on. A group of us firefighter wives went before our Welfare & Benefit Association to borrow the money to have tshirts made to sell at the FF yearly BBQ. No profit. Sold them for what they cost us. The graphic was donated by a local illustrator FF. When we showed up at the next months meeting with a check to pay the money back the treasurer looked at us like we were nuts. I said....what? She said...we’ve never had money paid back. lol
“There is a reluctance to penalize mis-spending”
Frankly, I believe this was the plan all along... and I think Trump believes it too. CA Dems floated this idea of an unworkable rail system as a means to benefit themselves and donors and get extra money from the federal government. I don’t think they ever thought they would get called on this... and if Hillary had won, they wouldn’t have.
...
I agree. I seem to recall Trump threatening to audit big projects either when he was a candidate or early in his presidency.
Trump is from New York. He knows a black hole of construction graft when he sees one.
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