In what was billed as a bipartisan bid to counter "an abuse of power," two state lawmakers sued Gov. Rick Scott over his rejection of federal high-speed rail funds.

Sens. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, and Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to order the governor to accept $2.4 billion in stimulus funds from Washington, D.C., to build a controversial Tampa-Orlando train line.

Altman and Joyner filed their suit as "an emergency petition," citing a one-week deadline given by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for Florida to accept the rail funding.

The lawsuit argues that a 2009 bill authorizing the HSR project and the SunRail commuter line in four Central Florida counties cannot be severed by Scott. Scott has not indicated his position on SunRail.

According to the legislation, both train systems would be overseen by Florida Rail Enterprise, under the state Department of Transportation.

The bill gives "Florida Rail Enterprise ... the full authority... to plan, construct ... and operate a high-speed rail system."

"No governmental entity other than the department may ... construct or operate high-speed rail ... except upon specific authorization of the Legislature."

The suit noted that Gov. Charlie Crist had requested the funding a year ago, and certified that Florida would "maintain its effort" to pursue construction of the rail system.

"Both the application for and award of these monies occurred and were completed under a prior Legislature and a prior governor," the suit stated. "The legislation implementing high-speed rail and the appropriations of the state and federal monies were fully accomplished prior to the election or inauguration of [Scott]."

Arguing that Scott overstepped his authority, the suit stated:

"Instead of completing the ministerial act of accepting the funds for the high-speed rail project as he was required to do, [Scott] instead requested that the monies be used for other Florida infrastructure projects.

"Such a claim of authority and the attempt to (1) reject the monies appropriated by the Florida Legislature; (2) reject financing specifically mandated by the Florida Rail Act; and (3) refuse to comply with the express directions of the High Speed Rail Act, all exceed [his] constitutional authority."

The 24-page petition was accompanied by dozens of pages of exhibits. It was submitted on behalf of Altman and Joyner by Clifton McClelland Jr., with the Melbourne law firm of McClelland Jones Lyons Lacey & Williams.

In a statement issued after the suit was filed, Joyner said, “The issue at hand is the ability to create a state-of-the-art rail line, at no cost to the taxpayers, and put people to work now and in the future.

“Stopping this project not only went against everything the governor promised during his campaign, it goes against his constitutional authority as well. The money Florida taxpayers sent to Washington should return to benefit Florida. Unfortunately, litigation was the only way to make that happen.”

"We need to let (Scott) know that this is not a monarchy and he is not a king," Joyner said.

Altman added, ”Our founding fathers created a system of three separate and co-equal branches of government. To maintain the integrity of our democracy, it is incumbent that we assert the rights of the people who elect their representatives. And the Surpeme Court is the proper venue to seek relief.”

Altman said he has spoken with Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, "and we've asked for Secretary LaHood to give us more time."