Fla. Justices To Hear High Speed Rail Dispute
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) – The battle between Florida Gov. Rick Scott and two state senators over federal stimulus money for the proposed high speed rail line goes to the Florida Supreme Court Thursday.
The Florida Supreme Court will hear oral argument in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Rick Scott's refusal to accept $2.4 billion in federal money for the proposed Tampa-Orlando high speed rail line.
The justices are holding the expedited hearing Thursday, just a day before the deadline for accepting the stimulus money.
If Florida turns down the money, it will go to high speed rail projects in other states.
Two state senators, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, sued. They say state law gives the Republican governor no choice but to take the money.
Scott disagrees and says the project because will leave Florida taxpayers on the hook for cost overruns and operating subsidies. Rail boosters say Scott's fears are unfounded as the private company that wins the high speed contract would have to pay for overruns and operating losses.
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