California to get high-speed rail funds 2 states rejected

[AsahinaKimi]

WASHINGTON — California's high-speed rail plan will receive up to $624 million in additional federal funds, Transportation Department officials announced Thursday.

The new funding adds to the $715 million in federal funds previously awarded to California. It arrives courtesy of Ohio and Wisconsin, two states where recently elected Republican governors decided not to accept their own allotment of high-speed rail dollars.

"I am pleased that so many other states are enthusiastic about the additional support they are receiving to help bring America's high-speed rail network to life," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declared in a written statement.

LaHood's redistribution of an additional $1.195 billion in high-speed rail funding provoked cheers among lawmakers who had been lobbying for a bigger slice, but regret among some Midwesterners who saw their own money slip away.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/12/09/105057/california-to-get-high-speed-rail.html

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YAY~ I so want this!

[Auggie]

1. Ohio and Wisconsin -- wtf?

It meant construction jobs, you morans.

But I'm happy the money is coming to California

[silverweb]

2. Both reTHUG governors rejected rail projects.

I'll be an old, old woman by the time the project is done in California, but I still hope I get to ride it. It's been a long time coming!

[Auggie]

4. Wow... I love California

stuff happening in other states is unbelievable

[Le Taz Hot]

3. The first section will be in an area

that currently has a 15.9% unemployment rate. PLUS, Fresno is in the running for the hub which will be 19,000 jobs. I can't begin to tell you how that will revitalize this area.

[StarsInHerHair]

5. so perhaps I'll get to live a fantasy of mine & take the train, hatbox in hand

I doubt there'll be any Pullman blankets though......the peripheral jobs made could be awesome: cooks, laundry, farmers to provide the food, mail, cleaning staff....hopefully we'll be able to create jobs that will resurrect the surging Middle Class, since the poor really is the Middle Class. The "next big thing" for the 21st Century: California needs to know what those will be and manufacture it/them.

I think a 'transfer fee' should be applied if a corporation wants to leave California-or any state, just to chase cheaper labor and no/low environmental standards, like a cell phone co.s early termination fee. Sports teams play this same game as corporations, the states needs to get proud again and grow teeth and fight the greedy, enough already of rolling over.

[HelenWheels]

6. I live in WI

And if any state had to benefit from our new governor's stupidity I'm glad it was CA. Good for you guys. We in WI have to suffer four years with our newly elected Repuke government.

[savalez]

7. Get a recall campaign going!