Sen. Carey Baker calls SunRail's a 'big bad wolf'

[JeffreyS]

Sen. Carey Baker calls SunRail's a 'big bad wolf'

http://www.floridabullettrain.com/

Last year, Eustis Republican Sen. Carey Baker was a yes on SunRail. But now he says ...

"Originally I committed to the SunRail ... a Little Red Riding Hood bill. Instead we're voting on this big bad wolf bill."

Ouch. Senate President Jeff Atwater had called the special session on rail to garner more votes. But Baker shows that he just lost one. And he didn't have many to spare. Baker just made the announcement at a workshop where Sen. Paula Dockery and Sen. Ronda Storms eviscerated the proposal by casting doubts on the liability provisions, the cost and the need for the rail deal. They also didn't buy the leadership's statements that this isn't a SunRail bill, that instead it's a Rail bill. Sure it is.

Dockery pointed out that many in leadership scuttled her husband's high-speed rail citizens initiative in 2004. Among them: Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, who cast a yes vote asking for a repeal of the constitutional amendment in 2004. Another objection to the bill: little time to discuss it. Storms said each senator only had an average of 6 minutes of questions for a bill that would ultimately cost taxpayers more than $1 billion.

"I had more time to shop for a home computer than I did to study the provisions of this ... and I object to that," she said.

Marc Caputo, Times/Herald Tallahassee bureau

[reednavy]

Are f*cking serious? Just pull the plug on all mass transit in Florida while they're at it.

[CS Foltz]

House passed the Bill by quite a margin............somehow unless something substancial happens I don't see it passing the Senate!

[thelakelander]

If it fails, maybe it will take the bad HSR plan with it.  However, in doing so, unless we plan on paying for rail with local money, we'll be in pretty bad shape.

[CS Foltz]

lake............I agree! Maybe the only way to get something rail based  in our world would be fund at the local level? I am beginning to believe that a one cent sales tax increase might be the way to go but not 100% convinced yet. Delaney got the tax increase shoved down our throats in an off election year supposedly for the "Better Jacksonville Plan"......I still say that was to balance the books!

[mtraininjax]

If they cannot get this one small part passed, forget Federal assistance in the future. You will not make everyone happy with this piece, but it will loosen the floodgates for future assistance, which, should help make more people happy. So give a little now, get a lot more later.

[CS Foltz]

I am going to wait and see just what comes out of this!

[tufsu1]

wellthe wolf is now blowing our houses down!