Florida Governor Rick Scott heard the message of the 2010 election loud and clear. Instead of taking $2.4 billion of federal pork to build a high speed rail line between Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando, Scott says no thanks to the federal government. If there is any place in the nation adverse to rail or public transportation it is the SUV/car -addicted I-4 corridor. Merely pouring billions into a high speed rail will not pry these folks from their cars. It was one of the worst places to blow billions of dollars on rail. While it may be true that the pork addicted states of New York or California may rush to the trough and take the money instead, at least Florida taxpayers won’t be on the hook for budget overruns and operating losses. Let California and New York dig their budget holes even deeper.
Not only does he say “No thanks,” he does it with simple, clear precision. It’s a beautiful thing. Sigh. Would that all politicians followed his example.
Amen!
Accepting this money would be economically suicidal for the state of Florida. It would still have pay for the salaries and maintenance associated with the system. The costs might even push Florida into a sort of financial receivership.
I believe Scott is the third governor to say no to high speed rail. Newly elected Republican John Kasich stopped Ohio’s horribly plan almoswt immediately upon election.
Listening to the NPR report on Governor Scott’s act this morning was a visit to another planet. Much of his clear list of financial hazards and endless future subsidies was omitted from the story. But numerous pained voices of parties who’d benefit from the construction managed to find a place in the report.
That included a hopeful international contractor, who ‘guaranteed’ that cost overruns would be ‘absorbed’ by the private sector.
No two ways about it, NPR is acting as a propaganda arm of the Obama administration, promoting hi-speed rail while negatively campaigning against Governor Scott. Time to end all Federal, state and local subsidies for NPR.
I can just see it now. The rails will end at the border and everyone will have to walk the rest of the way. ha ha ha ha ha
So, the governor who wants to put Florida “back to work” turned down the 23,000 jobs it would take to build the rail and the 1,000 jobs it would take to man it… yeah. He’s Voldemort, people, not Jesus or Batman. Open your eyes.
Mccleod,
If FL were interested in make-work jobs, it would be cheaper to hire 1000 people to dig holes and fill them in. High speed rail is not just a matter of squandering borrowed money to build it but losing money every year to keep it going. Destroying the state’s economy is no way to put people back to work.
The funny thing is is our governor has ties and spent time in Texas.The best model for light rail funded by federal dollars is in the great city of Houston Texas.furthermore students are always recieving school grants for colleges that never have to be paid back alot of the students end up working jobs not even requiring education.At least you would see something with this grant money.