The deal to burden FL taxpayers with CSX liability is dead for now. Paula Dockery...

[madfloridian]

Run time: 01:21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFy1gcgNP4o   Posted on YouTube: May 02, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 02, 2009 By DU Member: madfloridian Views on DU: 826

 
A Republican state senator has been a single lone voice against giving the citizens of the state of Florida the burden of the CSX liability.

Paula Dockery ends her statement saying this to the DOT:

To the Department of Transportation you work for the taxpayers, not a private industry.

That would be those same DOT officials who signed a confidentiality agreement about the secret talks with CSX?

Not many Democrats spoke out on this issue, and one almost became a deciding voice to put the bill in the win column. But Chris Smith backed off at the last minute and voted no.

I much admire Dockery for doggedly pursuing this. I am much disgusted with the congressional Democratic leaders who were willing to put their state on the line to cater to CSX.

Their names? They are our major Florida Democrats who wanted to sell out our state to bear the burdens of CSX.

Congressional leaders urge funding of rail project

The Legislature’s positive support of SunRail will guarantee $307 million in federal transit funds and lead the way for federal assistance to other areas for major transportation initiatives. Tri-Rail, for example, is facing severe budget cuts despite serving 4 million riders last year—a record number. Yet Tri-Rail is at risk of losing Federal Transit Authority funding if they cannot meet certain service levels.

Clearly, failure to act now during this legislative session in support of these critical transit projects will send federal transportation dollars to other states and damage Florida’s credibility as Congress considers a major federal transportation bill this year.

We look forward to working with you in the next few weeks toward a successful conclusion of the funding authorization of these two projects.

Sincerely,

John L. Mica
Ron Klein
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Corrine Brown
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Alcee L. Hastings
Mario Diaz-Balart
Robert Wexler
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Kendrick B. Meek
Suzanne M. Kosmas
Alan Grayson

Who is running state government.

So this time we thank a Republican for stopping a project that would jeopardized the economy of her state. She and her husband have fought long and hard about this, with Jeb Bush insulting them all the way. That's the kind of Republican I grew up knowing in my own family. Not the kind who are so prominent today.

[YDogg]

1. she's my rep

[bertman]

2. This is EXCELLENT!! I can't help but think that your efforts to make this issue known here

on DU helped to get the word out about this rotten fish of a deal, Madflo.

Has anyone gotten an explanation from the Democratic bloc you listed above as to WHY they were willing to do this deal?

Recommend.

[madfloridian]

3. I think the South Florida Congressional Dems...

were thinking about a system in their area I think. Tri-rail. I have not kept up with that.

Dockery really deserves credit on stopping Jeb's secret deal...at least for now.

[madfloridian]

4. Another article on her efforts.

Dockery the winner in CSX battle

TALLAHASSEE | Sen. Paula Dockery went against the leadership in the Florida House and Senate, against big business, against Gov. Charlie Crist and local officials on the east side of Polk County, many of whom are in her Senate district.

And she won.

More:

The bill to hold CSX harmless from accident injuries it may have caused to commuter rail passengers - the lynchpin in getting the railroad to sell 61 miles of track for an Orlando area commuter rail - failed Friday, an hour before the regular 60-day session ended. One of her biggest weapons was Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, whose district includes a sliver of Polk County.

In a speech Thursday, Storms demanded to know if the state was ready to assume the responsibility for "little dead bodies and grieving parents'' should an incapacitated CSX engineer strike a school bus and the railroad company would not be held liable.

It brought home the issue of liability as supporters promised commuter rail would bring jobs and economic development.

Dockery and Storms had not worked closely together before, but they became close colleagues during the 60-day fight against the bill.Friday night, even in victory, Dockery was not gloating. Sitting in her office suite sipping a cream soda as staff members celebrated the end of the session in the other room, she slowly went over the order of events like a football coach reviewing plays after a winning game.

Really surprised at Storms and Dockery, Republicans, doing the work our Florida Democrats should have been doing.

[meowomon]

5. Be careful Democrats

If the rethuglican party gets a clue and starts having a populist agenda, you may find yourself on the outs again. The Democratic party is for people, not big business. Get a clue or you will lose. You can't win on just liberal social policies if you let the people down time and time again.