Calif. May Have Chance At New High Speed Rail Funding
SACRAMENTO (CBS13/AP) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott canceled plans for a high-speed train line between Orlando and Tampa promoted by President Barack Obama, saying Wednesday it would cost the state too much even with $2.4 billion in federal help.
California Gov. Jerry Brown made it clear that California would be happy to take whatever money Florida gives up.
"I join with our two Senators and the California delegation in urging the President to redirect these funds to California. The $2 billion that Florida rejected are more than welcome here," Gov. Brown said in a statement.
California has already received $616 million after Ohio and Washington rejected the money in December and has received the most federal funding for the project so far.
High-speed rail is one of Obama's priorities, and his latest budget proposal calls for $53 billion over the next six years for projects across the country. Florida also stood to benefit when Republican governors in Ohio and Wisconsin rejected high-speed rail projects. The Obama administration committed another $342 million to Florida from the money that would have gone to those states.
Scott criticized Obama's spending plans when he announced Florida would reject the money, saying the president's most recent budget proposal would increase the country's debt.
"Higher taxes and more government spending is a recipe for disaster. Government has become addicted to spending beyond its means and we cannot continue this flawed policy," Scott said.
