Train wreck of a governor (Florida's Rick Scott)

[seafan]

Train wreck of a governor




link



Andy Marlette
Pensacola News Journal


St. Petersburg Times
Editorial

February 17, 2011

Gov. Rick Scott rashly acted in his own political interests and sacrificed the best interests of Florida Wednesday by rejecting federal money for a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando. It is a reckless, devastating decision that has nothing to do with the merits of rail and everything to do with Scott's obsession with courting the tea party movement and fighting the Obama administration. Florida's state legislators and members of Congress should explore every option in salvaging a project that holds so much promise for the state's economy and Tampa Bay's future.

The consequences of Scott's grandstanding are clear. More than $2.4 billion from Washington? Gone. Five thousand construction jobs? Gone. A modern transportation link between two of the largest cities in the fourth-largest state? Gone. Thousands of additional jobs serving the line; billions of dollars more in private-sector investment; and the chance for an ever bigger bang by extending the system from Orlando to Miami? Gone, gone, gone.

After barely a month in office and no serious review, Scott killed an effort that a bipartisan group of the state's political and business leaders pursued for decades. He consigned motorists and commercial carriers along the Interstate 4 corridor to bigger traffic jams. He put taxpayers on the hook for expensive highway projects as the only way to improve moving people and goods between Tampa Bay and the theme park capital of the world. And he sent a message to the global business community that Florida lacks the vision and courage to invest in its future.

.....

Scott took aim at the federal deficit and the Obama administration, which he intends to fight on every front regardless of Florida's needs. He fails to mention that the high-speed rail money is already committed and that Florida's money will just go to New York or another state with more vision. The reaction to such a foolish decision was biting and across the board.

.....

Reaction to Gov. Rick Scott's decision to reject rail money

St. Pete Times
February 17, 2011

"We worked with the governor to make sure we eliminated all financial risk for the state, instead requiring private businesses competing for the project to assume cost overruns and operating expenses."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

"This is a huge setback for the state of Florida, our transportation, economic development and important tourism industry."

Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, chairman of House transportation committee

"This is eating our seed corn. It's turning down 24,000 jobs, when we badly need them."

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who said when he was called by Scott on Wednesday morning, he offered "vigorous" argument against the decision.

"I don't understand the governor's lack of vision for the state. I think he has a very rigid ideology that is getting in the way of job opportunities for Floridians. It's a devastating decision for jobs, for Florida and our economic future."

Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa

"I visited with him yesterday and I had no inkling that they were heading in this direction. It shows kind of a lack of understanding and respect for the legislative process. It's supposed to be a collaborative process — where the governor and Legislature work together — and this is not an example of working together."

State Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee

"Florida is a donor state for transportation dollars, receiving only 62 cents on every transit dollar and 87 cents on every highway dollar we send to Washington, and this $2.4 billion in federal transportation dollars would have brought Florida in line with other states."

State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, an early supporter of Scott and a vocal high-speed rail proponent

"The governor needs to at least allow the bid process to carry forward. Is he afraid of the bid? Let the private sector come in and show us what they could do."

State Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne

"Rarely do you use Florida and innovation in the same sentence and this had a chance to bring us into a 21st century economy. All it does is take us back to the 20th century economy, which collapsed on us and it's not coming back. ... This put us on the map to really be an innovative leader nationally and globally. This sets us way back."

State Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, and one of the founders of Yahoo.com

"He's just wrecked it. ... He's taking our state and our community down the wrong track."

Kevin Beckner, Hillsborough County commissioner

"I'm convinced this could have been the linchpin in getting us to where we needed to go in reviving the economy."

Ronnie Duncan, chairman of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority

"I wish he had taken a little more time to look in depth at job creation and ridership statistics."

David Singer, Holland & Knight attorney who was director of Moving Hillsborough Forward

And then, the wing nuts pipe up:

"Gov. Rick Scott's decision ... is clearly a necessary and responsible choice. I just hope that the money is used to pay down part of our $14 trillion national debt."

U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent, R-Brooksville

And, bringing up the rear guard:

"While today's action stems from a desire to address our job-choking debt crisis, the reality is that similar actions across the states still wouldn't be enough to put America on a sound fiscal path. Only presidential leadership can help move the debate forward to reform the entitlement programs that threaten to bankrupt themselves and our entire country."

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio

Jeb Bush, when asked about Rick Scott ripping up the opportunity for high-speed rail: "I'm surprised he didn't let the process go to a conclusion ... before pulling the plug," Bush said, saying he was somewhat taken aback by Scott's timing.

Oh, yes, we vividly remember the pains Jeb Bush took to kill high-speed rail for Florida, against our will. Now, his newly-found buddy Rick Scott can keep up the assault.






This unforgivable decision by this fraudster occupying the Florida Governor's mansion is just one of many he has decreed against the public's will.

Just ONE.


Scott's health insurance proposal would hit state workers' wallets hard, February 17, 2011

Scott's pro-business agenda will cruise through Legislature, Florida Chamber chief says , February 16, 2011

Senate majority bashes Scott’s high-speed rail scuttling , February 17, 2011

Scott may have broken law with state planes sale, February 17m 2011

Gov. Scott proposes spending cuts, lower taxes, February 7, 2011 (He unveiled this monstrosity, not in the State Capitol as expected, but at a heavily partisan Tea Party event in the wilds of Florida.)

EUSTIS – At a highly partisan tea-party event on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his first budget proposal, one that makes sweeping changes to state government by slashing billions in taxes and spending.

Scott proposed spending almost $66 billion — $4.6 billion less than this year’s budget. Scott also wants to eliminate 7 percent of the state’s government jobs, which would mean about 6,700 state-worker layoffs. He wants even more cuts the following year.

Scott’s proposal was cheered by conservative activists and businesses, but it provoked a lukewarm response from fellow Republicans in the state Capitol. Democrats, unions and state workers could barely contain their bitterness over Scott’s calls to cut billions from schools, pensions and health programs.

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Scott not interested in any rail work-around , February 17, 2011, 4:27 pm

(Now that 26 State Senators have just sent a letter to the Transportation Secretary to continue the rail project.) And we've just been informed by Washington that we're getting one extra week to work this out, before the money is routed to another state.


Hey, dudes, this guy just doesn't give a $&*$ about Florida.



This criminal should never have been allowed to buy his way into the Governor's office.


Now that he's in it, we must recall him. And quite a few more who are well past their sell-by date, while we're at it.

[lpbk2713]

1. I found a pic of Scott when he had hair.

Yup. That's him alright.

[Scurrilous]

2. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Ineeda]

3. He obviously couldn't find a way

to skim off the top. Why isn't he in jail instead of the State House?