House Speaker Dean Cannon said today he'd be open to listening to folks who want to work around Florida Gov. Rick Scott's high speed rail rejection.
"I'm open to anything that anyone wants to propose," Cannon said this morning, adding "at this point I don't see how a project that big could functionally happen without some level of state involvement, but I'm willing to consider anything that anyone wants to propose, for sure."
But Cannon -- who said he didn't know about Scott's decision "until about the same time everyone else did" -- said he believes it was Scott's decision to make as governor.
"Apparently based on his analysis, the governor has concluded that high speed rail isn't a project he's going to pursue," Cannon said, noting that the Legislature had created a rail enterprise to allow the executive branch to pursue rail projects as "it saw fit.
"I think people are still adjusting to his decision," Cannon said. "But it's his prerogative as the head of the executive branch, as governor of the state to make that call."
States have become so accustomed to taking all money offered by the Feds it is a shock when it is turned down.......
It is about time somebody had the courage to evaluate projects and recognize they are simply taxpayer boonddogles......
Posted by: George Fuller | February 17, 2011 at 01:40 PM
That's right. We certainly don't need the government to invest in transportation infrastructure. After all, everyone knows that the private sector stepped up and built our interstate highway system without any public funding – oops, no; well they built our local roads – oops, no; weather, communications, and GPS satellite systems – oops, no; airports – oops, no; seaports – oops, no; the Intercoastal Waterway – oops, no; transcontinental railroads – oops, no; the Panama Canal – oops, no; the Erie Canal – oops, no…
Posted by: Darn right | February 17, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Cannon might not be willing to take a stand but at least the other chamber will, Mike Haridopolos has been calling on the governor to reject this plan for weeks, Im glad at least half of the state chamber is working hard to stop the federal government from spending all of our money. The federal government would be wise to heed Florida's advice and use this $2.5 billion to cut the federal deficit as governor Scott and Sen. Pres. Haridopolos intended!!!!!
Posted by: S. Sullivan | February 17, 2011 at 02:35 PM
@ S. Sullivan, I couldn't agree more, its a good thing we have those two looking out for us or else who knows what our government would do. Let's hope Obama and Nelson get the message and save that money instead of spending it!
Posted by: dmbandfan618 | February 17, 2011 at 04:39 PM