Yahoo. A FL Republican uses the words "corporate welfare" in regard to CSX.

[madfloridian]

Maybe they have had their eyes opened a wee bit by the outrage of the cities in Central Florida that were sold down the river by the secret deal in the legislature in 2006.

I can not believe Jim King really said this. I am glad he did.

"I would think that people would look at this as a bill that could be very much in trouble," said Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville. "We're going to have to be convinced that this isn't corporate welfare for one company (and) that it really is economic development in the state."

More from that article...

CSX Rail Plan Faces Capital Troubles

TALLAHASSEE | Fueled by a budget crunch and increased scrutiny, the Central Florida scrum over a $491 million rail project is spreading with lawmakers from other parts of the state questioning the plan.

The state's Department of Transportation agreed last year to pay $491 million to purchase CSX Transportation freight line in Orlando for the project. The state's payments include upgrades to CSX's freight line that runs from Jacksonville through Ocala and Lakeland to Tampa.

The worst is that the cities involved were given no input, and CSX was given permission to start this massive project before the cities had time to plan for it.

CSX is taking over areas of Central Florida with little or no oversight.

WINTER HAVEN - State planning officials have told CSX it can begin building a rail transfer center before planning reviews of the massive project are completed. In a letter sent to CSX this week, the state Department of Community Affairs said it would consider an agreement with the company that would allow CSX to begin construction on the Winter Haven project while a comprehensive planning review known as a development of regional impact is under way."

Another top Republican in Florida has been very worried that CSX was given a deal that protects them from immunity and requires the state to pay for damages.

LAKELAND | A behind-the-scenes agreement worked out between a Florida agency and CSX Transportation would protect the railroad from liability for accidents on tracks it is selling to the state for a proposed commuter rail line, The Ledger has learned.

..."Bartow lawyer John Frost recently completed a study of the proposed law, which is waiting to be filed but has no legislator's name attached yet. The law would grant the railroad company extraordinary protection even if it is at fault, he said.

According to Ledger sources, documents from the Florida Department of Transportation indicate that for at least three years the DOT and CSX negotiated the deal for the commuter rail system that soon will be reviewed by the Legislature.

When questioned recently about the secret deal he is said to have brokered, Jeb Bush said angrily that he resented that implication.

Well, I resent Jeb Bush and his family.

[keep_it_real]

1. The Book "Free Lunch" has some good stuff on CSX

And other companies that receive corporate welfare in the form of subsidies.

[antigop]

2. I would HIGHLY recommend it. n/t