R i g h t a r d i a: Sen. Bill Nelson: “Florida’s high speed rail chances are alive and the "Rick Scott weekly address"

Monday, March 14, 2011

Sen. Bill Nelson: “Florida’s high speed rail chances are alive and the "Rick Scott weekly address"

MEDIA RELEASE: Friday, March 11, 2011
CONTACT: Dan McLaughlin, 202-224-1679

Sen. Bill Nelson

WASHINGTON – New life was breathed into Florida’s high-speed rail project just moments ago, thanks in part to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and a handful of other officials who’ve worked to save the project over the past several weeks.

High speed rail update

Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood informed Nelson shortly before 5 p.m. today that he’s formally reopening the application process for some $2.4 billion in rail money rejected multiple times by Gov. Rick Scott. In so doing, LaHood cleared a path for a transit group in Florida – not the state government – to go after the money, Nelson said.

More specifically, it’s possible for a new regional transit authority comprised of officials from cities along the future rail route – Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland and Miami – to compete against other states without Scott’s support.

But the rail authority would have to do so in conjunction with Amtrak or another established transportation authority, Nelson noted.

LaHood could have simply given Florida’s money to someone else. Instead, he reopened the competition, keeping the door open to Florida rail backers at least until the April 4 deadline for applying.

In other news, Rick Scott didn't do his weekly address this week. Instead his boy, Senate president Mike Haridopolos provided a video update that was full of non-controversial platitudes and low in content.

Haridopolos is slick. He is a former college professor, attorney and and author. Sen. Bill Nelson will have his hands full in the next senate election. High speed rail is one issue where the two are miles apart.

Rick Scott update

Scott stopped providing You Tube video weekly addresses two weeks ago. Last week all Rightardia saw was a Scott press release.

Only 36 percent of Floridians think Scott is doing a good job, according to a the latest Quinnipiac poll on Feb. 2. Most don't believe Scott's no-tax increase pledge.

Many Floridians have indicated they don't know much about the new governor.

It looks like Scott wants to keep it that way. Floridians will be in in the dark now that he is no longer providing weekly addresses.

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