Gov Scott warns 'Don't laugh...you're next!

Our new governor is doing more to unite Republicans and Democrats than he ever imagined. His latest impulse decision was to reject $2.3 billion of a 90% federal stimulus grant for establishing high speed rail service on Florida's east coast that would create up to 100,000 jobs over the next ten years. It's admirable that he stands up for his political principles, but couldn't he do that AFTER he accepts the $2.3 billion? He did, after all, promise to create 700,000 jobs if elected and this would be 15% of that promise handed to him on a silver platter (actually nickel-plated copper since it is from the federal government).

Governor Scott, after proposing to gut the education budget (after all, why bother funding education when Florida's school system is already ranked as one of the nation's worst), eliminating Enterprise Florida, whose sole purpose is to bring more jobs to Florida (no point in trying to bring jobs when the biggest complaint of prospective companies is our poor education system) and now rejecting billions in stimulus money that will only go to other states, reminds me of an old joke. 

It's about the simple-minded fellow who comes home to catch his wife in bed with another man. He pulls out a gun and aims it at his own head, causing the two in bed to break out in peals of laughter. His angry response was, 'Shut up - you're next!'

Governor Scott has put the gun to his head in an attempt to scare away any future contenders for his job, but it is only resulting in peals of laughter and groans of dismay from fellow Republicans who must now push his suicidal agenda through the legislature. 

True, there are the questions of whether Florida is ready for high speed rail and where to find the $230 million matching state funds with a budget swimming in red ink. But my take on it is with traffic already out of control in South Florida, the rising price of gas and airfares going through the terminal roof, maybe it's time for an alternate mode of transportation. I can remember when the auto industry said no one wants small, fuel efficient cars to replace their gas guzzlers. Now, when you see a 60s or 70s era car on the road it looks sadly out of place. As far as where to find the $230 million of matching funds, just forget the tax cut. We need the jobs.

I'm a fiscal conservative, but isn't this rejection of high speed rail funds kind of like buying a winning lottery ticket and refusing to take the money because it is funded by taxpayers? If that's the way you feel, please send me your winning ticket.