With Gov. Rick Scott rejecting federal funds for a high-speed rail project between Tampa and Orlando Wednesday, political leaders across Florida quickly weighed in.
On the whole -- with one notable exception -- Republicans remained muted Wednesday morning after Scott made the announcement.
I have not spoken to the governor regarding todays announcement, but I watched the governors press conference, said House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. I'm encouraged that he is focusing on the practical realities of government programs, and their long-term impacts. As the constitutional officer charged with carrying out transportation policy, the governor seems to have determined that at this time he cannot feasibly implement high-speed rail in Florida. I have confidence that he will bring the same level of scrutiny to other issues.
Republican Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland, however, one of the party's first Scott backers, was the notable exception, releasing a statement expressing her disappointment in the governor's decision.
"It would have been more prudent for the governor to have waited for the private industry to make their offers in writing to assess the viability of this transformational transportation project," Dockery said. "Florida is a donor state for transportation dollars, receiving only 62 cents on every transit dollar and 87 cents on every highway dollar we send to Washington, and this $2.4 billion in federal transportation dollars would have brought Florida in line with other states. It appears that Secretary LaHood will direct these billions lost by Florida to California where true high-speed rail has the next best opportunity to succeed."
Democrats tried a bit of political ju-jitsu and tried to turn job creation, which propelled Scott to victory in the 2010 election cycle, against him.
One year after Florida lawmakers took historic, bipartisan action to spur the states economy with a job-creating high-speed rail proposal, Governor Rick Scott is making a misguided, unilateral decision to overturn the will of the Republican-led Florida Legislature, said Rep. Hazelle Rogers, D-Lauderdale Lakes, the ranking Democrat on theHouse Transportation Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee. Designing and constructing the proposed Tampa to Orlando high-speed rail project that federal and state agencies recommended would create thousands of needed jobs and help rebuild our states economy.
Transportation modernization helps Florida compete in the ever-growing global economy. Im appalled by Governor Scotts shortsighted thinking and his decision to choose politics and ideology over job creation for Florida, added Rogers. Lets put Floridians to work, Mr. Governor.
Since taking office, the governor has done a great job at shutting down transportation projects which would have kept employed or put to work thousands of Floridians, said Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Weston.
Over the past month, Governor Rick Scott has become a one-man wrecking crew for Floridas economy, putting at risk over 100,000 jobs as he tries to impose his extreme philosophy on the Sunshine State, fired away Eric Jotkoff, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party.
Governor Scotts rejection today of high-speed rail not only ends the hope of less congestion on our roads for Central Floridians stuck in I-4 traffic every day, but also stops a critical investment in Floridas infrastructure that will cost our state 71,000 job-years, continued Jotkoff. Between the governors actions today and his budget, which promised pink slips to tens of thousands of police, firefighters, and teachers, Rick Scott is putting Floridas future at risk.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
