Rick Scott considered accepting HSR money for JAXPORT dredging funds

[thelakelander]

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has been one of the most vocal critics of President Obama’s high-speed rail proposals, but according to a report released Thursday, he would have accepted money for a proposed railway if the administration had given his state money for dredging ports.

- The revelation came in a profile of Scott’s first year in office by Fortune magazine. Scott, who was against the proposed railway as a candidate, attempted to convince transportation officials in the Obama administration to agree to a deal that would have seen Scott accept $2.4 billion for a rail line between Tampa and Orlando in exchange for money to dredge ports in Jacksonville and Miami.

- “Though he was skeptical of the project's merits, Scott had been trying to cut a deal with the Obama administration to improve the state's position,” the magazine reported. “He believed the White House badly wanted him to accept the funding to build what they hoped would become a model for a nation-spanning system of high-speed rail.

full article: http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/railroads/203887-report-fla-gov-rick-scott-considered-accepting-obama-administration-rail-money

[Lunican]

I guess he miscalculated his position.

[vicupstate]

So in other words, he doesn't believe in HSR, but if you bribe him enough, he will support it.

[Dashing Dan]

This reminds me of an old monty python sketch, where the gangster threatens to beat a guy up if he pays and then the gangster threatens not to beat the guy up if he doesn't pay.  The turning point comes when the gangster finally threatens to beat the guy up if he doesn't pay.  I guess that Scott is a little bit dimmer than that gangster.

[JeffreyS]

If he had pulled it off wow. I wish he were a better negotiator.  I suspect some revisionist history here.

[Dashing Dan]

makes you wonder what he got for letting Sunrail go forward

[Ocklawaha]

I saw this last night but didn't post it because it has the strong aroma of "spin." I'm just glad as hell he killed the HSR and saved the industry from certain embarrassment and a premature death.

Since the terminals were close together, the drive time from metro Orlando to Tampa would have been faster by car.

[tufsu1]

i think its actually a very good article...and while it may be mere perception, there has clearly been a change in how Scott is acting outwardly.