Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial candidate: Take your high-speed rail (and $810 million) and shove it

[marmar]

Train Money Should be Rejected, Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidate Says

Larry Sandler
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wis.)


WISCONSIN - Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker said Monday he would rather return $810 million in federal stimulus dollars than spend $10 million a year of state tax money on operating the highspeed train that would be built with the federal cash.

"We'd rather send the money back than incur the cost," Walker told reporters after a Milwaukee campaign rally focused on opposition to the planned Milwaukee-to-Madison rail line.

The route would be an extension of Amtrak's existing Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line and eventually could be extended to the Twin Cities. It would start service in 2013 at a top speed of 79 mph, increasing to 110 mph by the end of 2015. Some of the line's six daily round trips would stop in Brookfield, Oconomowoc and Watertown, while others would run nonstop between Milwaukee and Madison.

During the rally, Walker, the Milwaukee County executive, played off President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign slogan as he derided Democratic claims that the train project is too far along to be stopped. More than $50 million could be spent before the next governor takes office. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=12246

[MrSlayer]

1. Translation: I don't want jobs for people in my state,

What a stupid asshole.

[mysuzuki2]

2. Scott Walker is a nasty little piece of republican snot

he has totally ruined the finances of Milwaukee County with his budget tricks. The park system especially has been devastated.

[HereSince1628]

3. Yeah stopping a $800+ million cause he says county cant afford 10 million

as its share.

This has gone way past hating inner city kids getting into the 'Tosa swimming pool.

[EC]

4. Little twerp

Walker can kiss my a$$ - I want this train...


Hasn't he and Newmannnnnn been complaining about Jobs? Well, this project is jobs. It'll also take some of the traffic from the I, which will help clean up our air...so many benefits...

[saltpoint]

5. That choo-choo will be an economic lift and a cultural

value as well.

Shame on Scott Walker.