LaHood turns down Kasich request to keep rail money

[The Straight Story]

LaHood turns down Kasich request to keep rail money

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is turning down a request by the newly elected Republican governor in Ohio to use $400 million awarded to the state under the federal high-speed train program for road-building and other projects.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a letter to Gov.-elect John Kasich that the Ohio train project - which would create regular speed passenger service between Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus - would be good for the state and national economy.

Kasich has promised to cancel the project, which he says the state can't afford. He sent a letter to Obama asking to use the money for roads and freight lines.

LaHood said the money can only be used for the train project.


http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=13476375

[dkf]

1. Good.

[malaise]

2. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah hahahahhahahhaha

Exactly what I suggested - give it to those who support the train project.

Fuck Kasich

[Blue_Tires]

3. excellent...that's how it's supposed to be...

[jaxx]

4. Good for LaHood.

This money needs to be kept exactly as it was allocated. Take that Mr. Kasich!!

[Canuckistanian]

5. No project, no project funds

Seems to be a simple concept.

[WCGreen]

6. Fuck that ass hole...

[SidDithers]

7. K&R...nt

Sid

[Owl]

8. GOOD!

[chill_wind]

9. K & R. n/t

[nykym]

10. Good

it is the right thing to do given the political climate at present. Yesterday the Fed told Gov. Christie (R-NJ) they have to return the money that was spent on studies for the NJ/NY train tunnel. OUCH!

[malaise]

11. Freaking perfect

They will not be spending tax payers' money for their pet projects.

[karynnj]

27. True - and don't think that the fact that NJ will have to pay a lot of money

for nothing - rather than for a needed infrastructure project hasn't been noticed in NJ. That added to Christie's gang losing us $400 million in educational funds out of incompetence and ideology is being noticed.

As he becomes a favorite among the RW talking heads, he may become increasingly unpopular in the state.

[LeftinOH]

12. That's good to hear, but it still sucks for us in OH.. we could've used some passenger rail.

[Pirate Smile]

14. I so wish Strickland would have won.

:(

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

22. And of course, they'll blame Obama

Because this fat hamface Kasuck tells them to.

[malaise]

23. No you don't wish that for anyone

I hope you don't

[karynnj]

28. Plese rethink this and self delete!

[RZM]

31. You know what's brainless? Your post.

At least people will see that before it's deleted. Although I'm tempted to call the non-voters brainless (especially since they probably would lean Dem and thus could have swung the election to Strickland), I think 'frustrating' probably says it better.

Starving people in camps is bad. Very bad.

[RZM]

32. Self delete -- Dupe n/t

[Enthusiast]

29. Me too.

Kasich appears to think he has already taken his oath of office and is in charge. What a (Bush-like) arrogant asshole!

[Tatiana]

13. Rightfully so. The whole point of high speed rail is to reduce the number of cars on the roads.

The appropriation was for that specific purpose. If you don't use it, you lose it.

Sad for the people of Ohio, who have elected a moronic dingbat as their governor. Cincinatti to Cleveland would have been a nice high speed route to have. Strickland wasn't the greatest, but he was a thousand times better than this toad.

[EnviroBat]

24. I wanted this train. Hell, everyone I know wanted this train.

If you ever have to drive rt 71 from Cincinnati to Cleveland, you'll take years off of your life, and you'll be ready to kill someone by the time the trip through hell is over.

[phleshdef]

26. And tons of people have to commute from the rural areas to the big 3 for work.

I live in Columbus and know a LOT of people that are in that situation. This would be the best thing Ohio has done in a long time if Kasich would just leave it be.

[EnviroBat]

39. Ohio would be a hell of a lot better period if this bastard would just leave.

I hate this fucker Kasuck.

[LaurenG]

30. I wanted it too.

:(

[gratuitous]

15. Hey, is that $400 million up for grabs?

We could use high-speed rail from Seattle to San Francisco out here on the West Coast. If Ohio's governor is too stupid to install it between the population centers in his state, we'll take it. Seattle to San Francisco in five hours? Nearly as fast as a plane, without the hassle of checking two hours early for your pre-trip electronic grope by the TSA pecksniffs, and you get to keep your shoes on. Sign me up.

[OHdem10]

34. Nope. It can only be used for trains.

[gratuitous]

35. We'd use it for trains

Board the Coastal Flyer in Portland at 9 a.m., and have a late lunch at Fisherman's Wharf? I would sooo be there.

[EnviroBat]

16. YES YES YES FUCKIN A YES!!!

In your smug, punk-ass face Kasich! Fuck you and you job killing policies. If you're out to fuck over the working class of Ohio then I hope you are immediately exposed for the Wall-Street cock-sucker you really are early in the game. I hope every stupid prick that voted for you gets stung!

[Renew Deal]

17. How much state money is involved in the project? And how many jobs will be lost?

I can't imagine cutting those jobs are good for the state.

[malaise]

18. Tell everyone who voted for this

asshole

[EnviroBat]

21. 8000 jobs down the toilet before this turd even got into office.

He's a fucking genius this one...

:sarcasm:

[bulloney]

40. That's about the same number of jobs lost when DHL left Wilmington that Kasich hung on Strickland

in his campaign ads.

Kasich is deliberately kissing 8000 jobs out the door over his ideology. And he's not even officially governor yet.

[Dappleganger]

20. What a dumbass...

other states competed for that money too and lost--they should get first dibs.

[karynnj]

25. This shows how stupid Kasich is - the money was specifically allocated in the legislation

for the train project. Lahood's department got to allocate where it went - as the locations were not earmarked. That does not make it a slush fund.

I wonder what Kasich will do now - could he be as stupid as Governor Christie?

[Enthusiast]

33. As you well know the RW narrative is

that the stimulus didn't create jobs. They are still trying to prove it.

[Zenlitened]

36. K & enthusiastic R. - n/t

[felinetta]

37. I am so glad that Kasich didn't get his way. Maybe Ohio will learn from this expensive vote.

[fizzgig]

38. send it to colorado

i'd love to see a train running from ft. collins to colorado springs.

[donheld]

42. That would be great.

[SoCalDem]

41. Good for him...

"Earmarked" money for special projects are JUST that.. for the project..no project..no money