Florida House passes high-speed rail repeal bill; Senate is next to vote

by Jim Repass
TRA Advisor
Founder of National Corridors Initiative

Concerned about the cost of a high-speed rail system, the Florida House Transportation Committee voted March 26 to make Floridians vote on repealing a Constitutional amendment that requires the state to build the network.

The committee voted 12-7 in favor of a resolution that would put a Constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2004 allowing voters to decide if they want to repeal the amendment requiring construction of a rail system connecting the state’s five largest population centers, according to The Sarasota Herald-Tribune of March 27.

Gov. Jeb Bush (R) has urged repeal of the high-speed rail amendment and another one approved last year that calls for a reduction in public school class size, contending that voters did not understand that they would cost billions of dollars and could force tax increases.

Senate President Jim King, also a Republican, stated recently the Senate would defeat such a bill and keep the proposed rail service – which has already accepted bids from potential builders – on track.

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Used by Permission
Copyright 2003, NCI, Inc.
Reprint from Destination Freedom, Vol. 4, No. 14.