FL Gov Wins HSR Suit: Returns $2.4 Billion

"Gov. Rick Scott emerged victorious Friday in his effort to kill high-speed rail in Florida. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced he would send $2.4 billion earmarked for Florida to other states."

The Times reporters note that Scott's rejection of the federal funding is the third time the state has rejected building high speed rail.

"In 1999, Gov. Jeb Bush halted construction of a bullet train that already had a contractor.

Five years later, he led a successful campaign to repeal a constitutional amendment passed in 2000 that required construction of high-speed rail."

"The governor's decision shows a devastating lack of vision, a lack of understanding of Florida's economic situation, and an unfortunate devotion to his own rigid ideology," U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said.

Thanks to Streetsblog San Francisco