Florida Lawmakers Encouraging Reckless Spending
Tallahassee – February 17th, 2011 – members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation and the Florida Legislature set forth a plan to circumvent Governor Scott’s decision to reject $2.4 billion in federal funds to build a high speed rail from Orlando to Tampa.
Twenty-six State Senators, including ten democrats led by high speed rail supporter Paula Dockery, sent a letter to Obama’s Transportation Secretary asking him to circumvent Gov. Scott and send the dollars directly to a state commission created in 2009.
Americans for Prosperity- Florida quickly replied with an action alert to it’s 83,000 members encouraging to them to write their state and federal officials asking them to hold the line.
The alert noted, “Governor Scott’s decision to reject the federal stimulus dollars is backed by sound economic policy and represents the voice of fiscal conservatives – he doesn’t think it is in the best interest of the state to commit to a project we can’t afford down the road. The Federal Railroad Administration has proposed a plan for Florida that will cost an estimated $11 billion to build, and it is projected that along with SunRail and Tri-Rail it will cost $100 million per year to operate once completed. With unknown ridership numbers and a budget shortfall of $3.5 billion and growing, the state of Florida simply can’t afford Obama and Dockery’s High Speed Rail plan.”
“Apryl Marie Fogel, Director of Americans for Prosperity Florida, stressed that, “Taxpayers throughout Florida have made clear their opposition to a high speed rail project that would leave taxpayers on the hook for years to come. We applaud Governor Scott for taking a tough stand and turning away federal money. Scott lends a voice of reason to a debate where special and self interest have become the priority over good policy-making. This project would saddle Floridians with a future that includes a looming threat of untold amounts of debt.
Fogel went on to emphasize, “The call for fiscal responsibility and good government has been loud and clear. The Senators who signed this letter need to take a step back and realize that they are held to the same standards as those in DC, many of them shook their fist at the Obama/Pelosi agenda campaigning against the same time of reckless and short sided governing that they are promoting.”
Access the full letter to Ray LaHood here: Letter to Ray LaHood
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens to support restraining state and federal government growth and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP is more than 1.5 million activists strong, with activists in all 50 states. AFP has 31 state chapters and affiliates. More than 70,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial contribution to AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
Americans for Prosperity does not support or oppose candidates for public office.
Note to Florida politicians; If you circumvent Gov. Scott on HSR, we will circumvent your career in politics.