Government

Feds Sending Another $342 Million to Florida for High-Speed Rail

Republicans and Dems in Congress like the idea; will Rick Scott?

By: Kevin Derby | Posted: December 10, 2010 4:05 AM

Around the State

U.S. Rep Corrine Brown and Roy Lahood

With the newly elected Republican governors of Ohio and Wisconsin rejecting federal funds for high-speed rail projects, the Sunshine State looks to gain, as both Democrats and Republicans in the Florida congressional delegation are happy about the additional money.

Incoming Gov. John Kasich of Ohio is turning down monies from the federal stimulus; Gov. Scott Walker, meanwhile, is looking to spend Wisconsin's designated funds on repairing infrastructure. That leaves $1.195 billion in high-speed rail funds that were due to be penciled in for those states now available for 13 other states including Florida.

That announcement came directly from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“High-speed rail will modernize America’s valuable transportation network, while reinvigorating the manufacturing sector and putting people back to work in good-paying jobs,” said LaHood. “I am pleased that so many other states are enthusiastic about the additional support they are receiving to help bring America’s high-speed rail network to life.”

California will get the bulk of the money -- up to as much as $624 million. Florida is penciled in to receive an additional $342.3 million, raising the total it will receive from the federal government to $2.39 billion.

Tags: Bill Nelson, Corrine Brown, George LeMieux, High Speed Rail, John Kasich, John Mica, News, Ray LaHood, Rick Scott, Scott Walker, stimulus, Government

Comments (6)

Mark Montgomery

2:23PM DEC 10TH 2010

What is a Republican? A Republican is a person who hates the middle class, the poor, minorities and all immigrants. The Republicans want the entire population to be homeless, powerless and without medical insurance. The new big Republican project is to kick public school teachers out of the middle class and leave them destitute. The Republicans are seething at the amount of power the teachers' unions are exerting and they won't be happy until the unions have been destroyed. When is America going to wise up to the Republicans? We should be fighting them in the streets, not compromising with them. Mark Montgomery NYC, NY boboberg@nyc.rr.com

ghostrideraz

2:22PM DEC 11TH 2010

The reason you have a axe to grind with Republicans /Conservaties is you object holding public education accountible and promoting in some cases teachers who should not teach. The Middle class will benefite from the new Republicans for extending the current Bush Tax Rate (not a decrease) and lowing the cost of Gov. Lowered taxes has historically returned more dollars back to the treasury.
Lower taxes and working with business is the key in returning folks back to work. It work for JFK,Reagon and Bush, just so happens they had to pick up a bad business climate.
The big unions are greedy and would destroy the hand that feeds them and bid themselves right out of a job. If you Union guys would base your demands on performace and if the company is making some sort of a profit. (God forbid!) The reb are destroying the Unions, the Unions do a good job all by themselves. It is truely comicially that the unions complaint at lenth about business leaving the United States, but the real problem once again, is some unions (not all) drive the business out with THIER UNREALIST DEMANDS.
So please if you are going to bash some one please have some factual infomation instead of , "you don't care".

ghostrideraz

2:31PM DEC 11TH 2010

Bobby come, more union thuggery, fighting in the streets? Please grow up and do the research other than you Union Hall Breifing. Burning and destroying your own comminity?
Like that makes perfect sence?

You guys are the first ones to camplain your city is up side down and the first ones to get a lawer when the National Guard and Law Enforcement puts you down and send you to jail!

RepublicanConscience

7:58AM DEC 10TH 2010

The Feds are trying to Railroad Florida into a failed system. Railroads lose money, they cost too much to build, they lower values of land surrounding them, and become a burden on the taxpayers. If Florida is stupid enough to accept the money, at least demand the repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act as a condition.

Fred Flinnstone

10:41AM DEC 10TH 2010

Welcome to the island that is Ohio. Thankfully the highway system and internet was installed before the new govenor.

ghostrideraz

2:43PM DEC 11TH 2010

Again, with unemployment in Oh is Almost 10% recorded. Your current Gov. has been uable to grow Ohio's Business Growth?
What is wrong with starting fresh with some who is aleast looking to cut the growth of Gov? At least Kasick has a action plan on the table starting in Jan.

I know this new guy scares you union thugs!