U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor invoked businessman Warren Buffeett in her latest attempt to convince Gov. Rick Scott to allow passenger high speed rail to be built in Florida. Castor's letter quotes a memo Buffett wrote to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, in which he talks about moving freight by rail, noting that it's "three times more fuel-efficient than trucking." Castor writes that "Buffett's championing of rail investments provides an important lesson for Florida."
The only problem with using the Buffett argument is that he doesn't seem to talk about passenger rail, only rail for freight. And Scott has frequently said he supports investment in rail as a way to more efficiently move freight to and from Florida's ports. He just doesn't seem to want to move people by rail.
A lawsuit challenging Scott's executive decision to reject federal money to build a high speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando is still percolating.
As a proponent of HSR for people...and from a state that WANTS the funds (Illinois) I firmly support Gov. Scott's shortsightedness, we'll gladly be the guinea pig for job creation and economic development.
Posted by: Jay Peterman | March 01, 2011 at 02:51 PM