Governor Rick Scott, in rejecting the federal government grant of $2.4 billion dollars for the Tampa to Orlando bullet train, misled Floridians in claiming that taxpayers would be on the hook for any possible cost overruns and the state would have to repay these funds, if the project failed. These claims are false.
Since making these claims last week, a group of bi-partisan local elected officials has worked diligently to address all of Scott’s concerns. In a statement on Thursday, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) said, a detailed plan had been developed that removing any financial burden from the state of Florida taxpayers.
Nelson said:
“Under this plan, Florida would accept the $2.4 billion federal grant. The state would transfer the money over to a new legal entity made up of city officials from along the first leg of the route between Orlando and Tampa. This new entity, called the Florida Regional High Speed Rail Commission, would then enter into a contract with the private companies that would design, build, operate, maintain and finance the rest of the operation.”
In other words, it would be private companies that would have borne any risk if the rail system failed and not the Florida taxpayers.
But even though all Scott’s claims had been addressed under the alternative plan, he continued to tell Floridians that he believes, the “risk far outweighs the benefits”, although the risk has been removed!
Nelson said, Scott’s decision to turn down the $2.4 billion in allocated funding in high speed rail is “disappointed” and “pitiful”. He also noted that high-speed rail is not a partisan issue, rather an economic opportunity for Florida.
“…Given the hard times we’re all facing, it was a chance to bring thousands of new jobs to Florida–24,000 of the,” Nelson said.
Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica seemed to suggest that there was no way forward, saying he had done all he could, in a statement.
“I have done all that I can to salvage the project to this point and present what I consider to be a viable alternative plan that places the risk with the private sector and protects the taxpayers,” said Mica.
Mica added that it is his intention “to work to salvage millions of dollars already expended and years of study on the critically important link from the Orlando Airport to our tourist area.”
With Scott’s unilateral and misguided decision, $2.4 billion dollars and at least 24,000 jobs will now be sent to other states, perhaps New York or California–states that are eager to get the funds and get jobs for their residents.
It’s a pity that Scott does not have a vision for Florida. As the saying goes, ‘where there is no vision, the people perish”.
