Crush Liberalism

Liberalism: Why think when you can “feel”?

FL Governor Rick Scott to Joe Biden: Shove your high speed rail, pal!

I’m pretty sure he said that.  Or something like that.  I’m paraphrasing, natch.  Details:

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday became the third newly elected Republican governor to reject the Obama administration’s $53 billion plan to build a nationwide high-speed rail network.
…
In declining more than $2 billion in federal funds for the proposed Orlando-to-Tampa line, Scott said federal government’s ridership and revenue estimates are too optimistic, meaning that Florida taxpayers would have to subsidize the line. He also suggested that cost overruns could leave Florida taxpayers having to foot a $3 billion bill.

“The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers, and I believe the risk far outweighs the benefits,” Scott said.

Kudos to Governor Scott for not being swayed by the lure of “free” federal money, which as he observes, only puts us Floridians on the hook if there are tax overruns.  I know, I know, since when has the federal government totally blown it on guesstimations of costs?  Oh, I dunno…

At its start, in 1966, Medicare cost $3 billion. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated that Medicare would cost only about $ 12 billion by 1990 (a figure that included an allowance for inflation). This was a supposedly “conservative” estimate. But in 1990 Medicare actually cost $107 billion.

February 17, 2011 - Posted by | Florida, pork, Rick Scott

4 Comments »

  1. Personally, think the bullet train is a big waste since rail has not been successful in America in modern times, and I doubt it’s coming back.

    However, the governor is obligated to follow Florida’s State Constitution that calls for the building of a high speed rail. Wouldn’t it make more sence to take the Federal aide to build the constitutionally mandated rail system rather than the state paying for the whole thing. Or is Scott just going to ignore the state constitution all together?

    Personally, I’d wish he would put a amendment on the next ballot to repeal the the high speed rail amendment rather than acting like a tea party Obama and ignore the constitution.

    Comment by Steve | February 17, 2011

  2. Steve, the FL Constitution was amended in 2004 to do away with the 2000 bullet train amendment.

    http://www.siteselection.com/ssinsider/snapshot/sf041108.htm

    Comment by crushliberalism | February 18, 2011

  3. Then I’m fine with it.

    Comment by Steve | February 19, 2011

  4. The A-TRAIN and the CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO and well as THE CITY of NEW ORLEANS are song about famous trains but nothing for the EL PORK BARREL RAILROAD

    Comment by SPURWING PLOVER | April 9, 2011


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