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Old 12-11-2010, 11:39 AM
 
Location: Pasadena
7,411 posts, read 10,394,952 times
Reputation: 1802

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Wisconsin, Ohio and federal stimulus funds: California is happy to take your money - latimes.com

In their infinite wisdom of short-sightedness the Republican governors of Wisconsin and Ohio have turned down federal stimulus funds for rail projects so California will get the bulk of this money to continue our state's bullet train project, the largest and most ambitious rail operation in the nation. If I lived in those two states with Republican nitwits as governors, I'd be furious! Another example of why California votes Democratic only.


"A windfall for California

Remarkably, the governors of Wisconsin and Ohio seem to have taken us up on an offer so disadvantageous that the most shameless infomercial producer would hesitate to promote it. After being awarded a combined $1.2 billion in stimulus money to build rail projects — $810 million for a train from Milwaukee to Madison in Wisconsin and $385 million for a rail line linking Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio — the governors turned it down. Instead, it will be distributed to train projects in 13 other states, with California being the biggest single beneficiary.

Why would they do such a thing? Because it would cost taxpayer money to operate the rail lines after they're built.
Scott Walker, Republican governor-elect of Wisconsin, fretted that his state's train would cost $7.5 million a year to operate. As train supporters pointed out (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/us/10rail.html%3F_r=1%26scp=1%26sq=cooper%20wisconsin %20ohio%26st=cse - broken link) to the New York Times, this is sort of like turning down a free car because you don't want to have to pay for gasoline and insurance. Not only did Walker and Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich, also a Republican, ignore the construction jobs the projects would have created, but they ignored the positive impact on their states' economies, freeways and environment that the trains would have brought to future generations."
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Old 12-11-2010, 12:17 PM
 
11,715 posts, read 40,461,182 times
Reputation: 7586
More like turning down a "free" white elephant.
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Old 12-11-2010, 12:37 PM
 
Location: SW MO
23,593 posts, read 37,492,286 times
Reputation: 29337
Quote:
Originally Posted by californio sur View Post
Wisconsin, Ohio and federal stimulus funds: California is happy to take your money - latimes.com

In their infinite wisdom of short-sightedness the Republican governors of Wisconsin and Ohio have turned down federal stimulus funds for rail projects so California will get the bulk of this money to continue our state's bullet train project, the largest and most ambitious rail operation in the nation. If I lived in those two states with Republican nitwits as governors, I'd be furious!

... but they ignored the positive impact on their states' economies, freeways and environment that the trains would have brought to future generations."[/b]
Without knowing the terms of these "bonus" funds one must also ask about repayment, federal control over state sovreignty and long-term indebtness reaching to several future generations.

While I know you love to come off on the Republicans and use any pretense to do so perhaps, in this instance, they were being appropriately protective of their states and taxpayers.

Last edited by Curmudgeon; 12-11-2010 at 01:57 PM..
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Old 12-11-2010, 12:55 PM
 
2,093 posts, read 4,699,831 times
Reputation: 1121
It's what the state voters wanted. Obviously, the OP has a big problem with that.
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Old 12-11-2010, 12:57 PM
 
Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,688,564 times
Reputation: 2622
Not a chance, they wanted to appear frugal to appease the base, and were and are not the least bit interested in any outcome beyond their own political aspirations.

Welcome to tea bagger influence, where the ignorant are led by the fat cats (Koch brothers etal ) to cut their own throats.
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:08 PM
 
Location: Police State
1,472 posts, read 2,410,967 times
Reputation: 1232
Quote:
Originally Posted by .highnlite View Post
Not a chance, they wanted to appear frugal to appease the base, and were and are not the least bit interested in any outcome beyond their own political aspirations.

Welcome to tea bagger influence, where the ignorant are led by the fat cats (Koch brothers etal ) to cut their own throats.
Or perhaps they crunched the numbers and realized what a raw deal it was.

Running up massive deficits is a enlightened thing to do.
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:48 PM
 
3,247 posts, read 6,304,518 times
Reputation: 4939
Ever been to Wisconsin? It is a 75 minute drive between Milwaukee and Madison if you drive nice. Hardly any traffic most days especially by California standards. Even Badger Bus takes only 90 minutes with 4 stops between the cities. To build a 800 million dollar rail project in that area would be a record setting stupid waste of money. I commend the Wisconsin governor!
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Old 12-12-2010, 06:13 AM
 
9,725 posts, read 15,175,529 times
Reputation: 3346
Most states aren't taking into account things that will happen in the next 50 years:

Gas prices will go up.
Population will increase.
Building more roads has limits.

States that don't have 37 million people and 16 lane freeways think that more freeways are a solution to transportation woes.

California needs to set an example of what can be done when you think outside the box.
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Old 12-12-2010, 06:19 AM
 
2,016 posts, read 5,206,944 times
Reputation: 1879
Quote:
Originally Posted by UB50 View Post
Most states aren't taking into account things that will happen in the next 50 years:

Gas prices will go up.
Population will increase.
Building more roads has limits.

States that don't have 37 million people and 16 lane freeways think that more freeways are a solution to transportation woes.

California needs to set an example of what can be done when you think outside the box.
If by "most states", you mean, "Ohio, then you would be 100% correct. Ohio (the state I've been living in for 40+ years) is notorious for thinking small, stupid, and ignorant. The rust-belt mentality is alive and doing quite well. Our new governor, Kasich, thought that if he kaboshed the Three C Rail, that the money would instead go to expanding/fixing roads, bridges, etc. Guess, he was wrong. Surprise, surprise, surprise, Gomer Pyle!

In any case, yes, California should set an example of what can be done when you think outside the box. I've been planning on relocating back to CA for years. This just solidifies the decision...to say it lightly.
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Old 12-12-2010, 10:18 AM
 
Location: Bella Vista, Ark
77,771 posts, read 104,785,201 times
Reputation: 49248
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna7 View Post
If by "most states", you mean, "Ohio, then you would be 100% correct. Ohio (the state I've been living in for 40+ years) is notorious for thinking small, stupid, and ignorant. The rust-belt mentality is alive and doing quite well. Our new governor, Kasich, thought that if he kaboshed the Three C Rail, that the money would instead go to expanding/fixing roads, bridges, etc. Guess, he was wrong. Surprise, surprise, surprise, Gomer Pyle!

In any case, yes, California should set an example of what can be done when you think outside the box. I've been planning on relocating back to CA for years. This just solidifies the decision...to say it lightly.
and from your varies postings it sounds like Ca is a much better place for you than Ohio.

Nita
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