Posted by JM Ashby
Governor Rick Scott of Florida has adamantly opposed over $2.4 billion dollars in funding for high-speed rail projects since taking office and now his wish has finally come true -- the money will go somewhere else.
WASHINGTON -- Putting a formal end to attempts to satisfy his concerns with the project, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has rejected a last-ditch effort by the Department of Transportation to build a portion of a national high-speed rail system in his state.
Scott had what an official described as a "not long" phone conversation with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Friday morning, informing LaHood that he would continue to refuse $2.4 billion in federal funds for the project. The money will likely now be available to other states.
Rick Scott's plan to reject the money was recently challenged in court by his own Republican party in the state of Florida. Senator Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) said "I believe that he exceeded his executive authority and in a very strong sense we have a constitutional crisis on our hands." U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa said she would be "devastated" by losing the rail-project.
Those efforts were put to rest by the Florida Supreme Court when it ruled that Scott has the authority to refuse the money.
The Supreme Court issued a brief but unanimous decision siding with Scott less than 24 hours after hearing oral arguments. The unsigned opinion said the senators did not show they were entitled to an emergency court order that would have required Scott to accept the money.
Scott spokesman Brian Burgess said in a statement that Scott was pleased with the court's decision.
"He is now focused on moving forward with infrastructure projects that create long-term jobs and turn Florida's economy around," he said.
"He is now focused on moving forward with infrastructure projects?"
The state of Florida just learned what it's like to be Teabagged.