LaHood puts Florida rail money up for grabs

[babylonsister]

LaHood puts Florida rail money up for grabs
By Keith Laing - 03/11/11 05:38 PM ET


Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday he was officially making the $2.4 billion in high speed rail money that had been rejected by Florida available to other states.

LaHood has repeatedly said there was a great deal of interest in building high speed railways, despite Florida's rejection. Last week, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) became the third newly-elected GOP governor to turn down the funds.

The transportation secretary has said he would have no trouble finding another state to take the money.

He said on Friday that new applications for the funds would be collected until April 4th.

“The Obama administration’s bold high-speed rail plan will create jobs, reinvigorate our manufacturing sector and spur economic development for years to come,” LaHood said in a statement.

“States across the country have been banging down our door for the opportunity to receive additional high-speed rail dollars and to deliver all of its economic benefits to their citizens," he added.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/railroads/149067-lahood-puts-florida-rail-money-up-for-grabs

[msongs]

1. the Democratic State of California will gladly put that money to good use thanks :-) nt

[quakerboy]

9. Lets bring it west

I wonder how much it would cost to run a high speed line from SoCal up to Vancouver BC?

[Shiver]

2. Wisconsin would love it!

I'm sure Governor Walker would be happy to accept it!

...oh, wait...

[golfguru]

3. Use the money towards reducing the national debt

Since none of the government run trains make a profit and are
subsidized by working people who pay taxes.

Besides we will be borrowing the money from China and Chinese
corporations will get the contracts to build it.

It is a WIN-WIN for China! They get to lend us the money and collect
interest for ever, then they make a huge profit on building it!

[ClarkUSA]

5. Isn't that what the Republicans want, golfguru?

Following your line of reasoning, the Obama administration should just shut down the whole government, eh?

[golfguru]

7. Just shut down borrowing from China

Spare our kids and grand kids the debt burden from a foreign country
not known for human rights. I don't give a shit what the republicans want.

[ProSense]

8. Considering all those

tax breaks for the rich and corporations, and oil subsidies are part of the borrowing, why use the rail money? At least it creats jobs.

[golfguru]

10. Agreed on ALL corporate welfare

The jobs created by BORROWING are temporary jobs. Once the construction
is done, union jobs are done and gone. But the debt stays with us for ever
since we have no surplus to pay off even 1 dollar of the debt (net).

[quaker bill]

11. We don't borrow from China

they buy t-bills with their trade surplus because they have to put all those spare dollars somewhere. The debt burden is a joke.

[Chipper Chat]

4. How about a Chicago -Indianapolis -Evansville high speed rail?

Oh wait, I forgot - our governor Mitch is a republican (who sold our toll road to Spain).

[LiberalFighter]

6. Could I make my area a new state and apply for the funds?

[Badfish]

12. fuck.

I hope my state reaps what it sows.

I am afraid FL needs to be totally destroyed in order to be rebuild.