No high-speed rail for Florida; court rules for Scott, feds move to give money to someone else

By Janet Zink and Alex Leary, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In Print: Saturday, March 5, 2011
TALLAHASSEE

After the state Supreme Court ruled in his favor and the federal government begrudgingly accepted his refusal, Gov. Rick Scott emerged victorious Friday in his effort to kill high-speed rail in Florida.

The death knell came when the court turned down a last-minute lawsuit from two state senators to save the Tampa-Orlando line and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced he would send $2.4 billion earmarked for Florida to other states.

"I know that states across America are enthusiastic about receiving additional support to help bring America's high-speed rail network to life and deliver all its economic benefits to their citizens," LaHood said shortly after he talked by phone with Scott, who rejected the money for a third time.

The midmorning announcements within minutes of each other brought abrupt closure to two weeks of uncertainty that started when Scott formally declared Feb. 16 he didn't want the money that had been accepted last year by the Legislature and then-Gov. Charlie Crist.

Full story here: http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/florida-supreme-court-rejects-senators-lawsuit-against-gov-rick-scott/1155233