Posted on 02/17/2011 11:02:11 PM PST by kara2008
Members of Florida's Congressional Delegation and the Florida Legislature are plotting to circumvent Governor Scott's decision to reject $2.4 billion in federal funds to build a high speed rail from Orlando to Tampa. Unlikely bedfellows were made today when a group of 26 State Senators, including ten democrats and led by high speed rail supporter Paula Dockery, sent a letter to Obama’s Transportation Secretary asking him to circumvent Gov. Scott and send the dollars directly to a state commission created in 2009. They noted that politics should have no place in the future of Florida’s transportation, but they are doing exactly that with this political power play to quiet your voice and that of your elected Governor.
Governor Scott's decision to reject the federal stimulus dollars is backed by sound economic policy and represents the voice of fiscal conservatives - he doesn't think it is in the best interest of the state to commit to a project we can't afford down the road. The Federal Railroad Administration has proposed a plan for Florida that will cost an estimated $11 billion to build, and it is projected that along with SunRail and Tri-Rail it will cost $100 million per year to operate once completed. With unknown ridership numbers and a budget shortfall of $3.5 billion and growing, the state of Florida simply can't afford Obama and Dockery's High Speed Rail plan.
Please, use the form below and contact your state and congressional representatives to tell them that we can't afford to play politics over High Speed Rail. {Contact form at link}
These 26 political hacks and looters are trying to run around the will of the Governor and the residents of Florida who do not want this boondoggle project and the enormous tax burden that comes with it. These 26 senators are at the top of my FL vote the bums out list.
Kick them out! If they want this train, let them fund it with their own money and leave FL taxpayers out of it!
I believe that is stealing. They should be prosecuted. Nothing but a pack of thieves trying to keep their gravy trains going.
The train scheme reminds me of the “Monorail” Simpsons episode.
If they do it like this will this mean the state is off the hook for future costs?
They are also introducing a bill to recall Gov. Scott expressing his lack of experience, blah, blah, blah. The same crap that didn’t work during the campaign. I suppose if they get millions from the Fed to run this recall campaign maybe it will work this time. The will of the people be damned!
Proving that both parties are as corrupt as hell.
High speed was turned down by refferendum here in Florida a few years ago.
Course why would anyone expect politicians to follow the will of the people.
Just shut up and move along, Gubmint knows what is best for you peasants.
Scott is kicking ass. We will primary out a lot of the RINO Republicans. This crazed obsession with the stupid train is just incredible. None of the locals want it.
I want the nmes of the 16 Rs. They need to hearfrom the TEA PARTY.
We’ve voted these trains down I think three times. But all the Feds have to do is dangle a juicy carrot of funds to these RINOs. We have to pay this 3 billion back to the feds. Meanwhile these lucky public servants all seem to get wealthier while serving. All their buddies do too.
I thought for once we had a guy who could stop this madness. Now Crist, Sink, 10 Republican state senators along with a half a dozen democrats are trying to maneuver a coo of sorts and govern outside of Tallahassee.
This seems criminal to me. They are running this State into the ground. We are out of money.
I heard about it yesterday. Bill Nelson is in on the scam. I just do not get the socialists obsession with the stupid train that nobody wants or needs. Why are they so fanatical about it? Is it just the free money or another reason?
No, it means there will be much fanfare and pageantry from the federal government and representatives when the project gets the initial funds.
Then the fed-level folks will skip on along to their next sound bite, and let the state government take the heat for wasteful spending when the money runs out, the project lies half-finished, and the operating costs play Pac-Man with the state budget.
The companies selling trains are spreading a lot of money around.
Wonder if G.E. has its hands in the pie?
Not to mention they’ll charge $20 for the tickets, per person one way. Wanna take your family of 4 to disney? That’ll be $160 just for transportation.
I’m sure GE is in there someplace. Buncha criminals.
Whoever it is has gotten to a lot of entrenched Republican State Senators. We will have to remove them in the next primary.
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