FL lawmakers sue governor for rejecting high-speep rail money
Filed Under : debt elimination by admin
Mar.2,2011Tampa, FL, United States (AHN) – Two Florida lawmakers are suing the state’s governor for failing to accept $2.4 billion in federal funds for a high-speed rail system.
The money was for a project that voters had approved and would link Tampa to Orlando on a technologically advanced railway people mover.
Melbourne Republican Thad Altman and Tampa Democrat Arthenia Joyner filed a 25-page emergency petition supported by close to 240 pages of documents.
“If every newly elected governor decided to stop the major infrastructure project which were under way when he was elected … Florida will not be able to plan, finance, and construct the major infrastructure projects it requires for its people and its future,” their petition said.
In a response, Scott issued a statement saying, “My position remains unchanged. I’ve yet to see any evidence that Florida taxpayers would not be on the hook.”
He also said, “Senators Altman’s and Joyner’s disrespect for taxpayers is clear by their lawsuit trying to force the state to spend this money.”
In a statement issued after the suit was filed, Joyner said, “The issue at hand is the ability to create a state-of-the-art rail line, at no cost to the taxpayers, and put people to work now and in the future.”
She added that “Stopping this project not only went against everything the governor promised during his campaign, it goes against his constitutional authority as well. The money Florida taxpayers sent to Washington should return to benefit Florida. Unfortunately, litigation was the only way to make that happen.”
“We need to let (Scott) know that this is not a monarchy and he is not a king,” Joyner said.
Altman added, “Our founding fathers created a system of three separate and co-equal branches of government. To maintain the integrity of our democracy, it is incumbent that we assert the rights of the people who elect their representatives. And the Supreme Court is the proper venue to seek relief.”
The emergency petition was filed because of a one-week deadline given by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for Florida to accept the rail funding. Altman and Jones have since asked for an extension on that deadline as the case is being investigated.
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