All Aboard Florida and Patrick Murphy Draw Carl Domino's Fire

Former state Rep. Carl Domino, now running for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., in November, fired a shot across the bow of All Aboard Florida (AAF) as it continues to try to bring high-speed rail to the Sunshine State. Domino also turned his fire to Murphy on the issue.

At a recent citizens meeting at Jupiter Town Hall, I asked the leadership of AAF what it would cost for a ticket to ride on the train, Domino posted at his website on Sunday. How else can we determine if this is a financially viable plan? I further tried to understand from Congressman Patrick Murphy where the estimated billions of dollars to fund what was supposed be a private project would come from. Neither the executives representing AAF nor Congressman Murphy chose to respond to these questions. Do they know the answers and are they just unwilling to share them? Or do they not know the answers but expect taxpayers to finance a project which has not been subject to financial due diligence.

Of course Murphy has consistently supported the plan, Domino added. In the summer he declared it would have a lasting impact on Florida's economy and transportation system. He further said it would serve as a model for other similar areas of the country. At the Jupiter meeting one citizen asked Murphy if it was true that his support was based in large measure due to the enormous construction contracts that his family's owned business had been promised. Murphy refused to answer that question.

Now Murphy is frantically engaged in a belated effort to do his homework, Domino continued. Not having done an analysis before he endorsed this big government plan, he now cites financial and safety concerns. As usual he is writing letters to everyone he can -- but still supports the plan. Apparently he follows the Nancy Pelosi model of understanding what you are supporting after you vote for it. Or perhaps it is just that he has never lived, until a few years ago, in the district which he represents. Maybe as a Broward County citizen he became enamored with mass transit systems.

When I fought Gov. Crist over his insistence that Digital Domain be given significant taxpayers dollars, my objection was based on a detailed review of the plans that the company had provided, Domino concluded. I understand that many things are happening in the world and the congressman is spending much of his time raising funds for his re-election. But this ill-conceived project not only jeopardizes the safety and living environment of the citizens of Congressional District 18, it poses a significant financial risk to us taxpayers.