Say what you will about what John Kasich has become, but as governor of Ohio, he was smart enough to turn down all of the “free” federal money being offered to construct a high-speed rail system knowing that free is very expensive when the government is involved.
California, on the other hand, jumped at the chance to build a high-speed train and happily accepted billions of federal tax dollars to make that dream a reality. And there’s still no train. And President Trump wants the money back.
California has been forced to cancel the massive bullet train project after having spent and wasted many billions of dollars. They owe the Federal Government three and a half billion dollars. We want that money back now. Whole project is a “green” disaster!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2019
And that, apparently, poses some sort of contradiction to the folks at CNBC:
Trump's love for infrastructure doesn't extend to California's high-speed rail project https://t.co/cJ3fT2PPU4
— CNBC (@CNBC) May 22, 2019
Wonder why? Let’s read on:
Even as President Donald Trump insists he’s supportive of infrastructure projects, some say his record proves otherwise, especially when looking at high-speed rail.
“Some say.” Who are “some”? Do you mean Andy Kunz, CEO of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association? He sounds objective.
On Tuesday, California sued the U.S. Department of Transportation over its decision last week to terminate a 2010 grant agreement involving nearly $1 billion in funding for the state’s high-speed rail project. In its lawsuit, California charges that the U.S. government’s action “was precipitated by President Trump’s overt hostility to California, its challenge to his border wall initiatives, and what he called the ‘green disaster’ high-speed rail project.”
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So Gov. Gavin Newsom thinks Trump’s trying to claw the money back because he’s bitter about the border wall, not because there is no train and there will never be a train.
Thanks @CNBC for half the story, like always
— Danny (@prflyer) May 22, 2019
It's ok to be disinterested in useless wastes of money. Really. pic.twitter.com/9sSiTzcvv3
— Marie Arf (@schwingcat) May 22, 2019
It was the governor of California, @GavinNewsom, who ended the project, after the federal taxpayer coughed up $3billion dollars that CA will not return.
Nobody wants to give more money to California grifters. https://t.co/EMrQO3pokz
— BayAreaFrau (@bayareahausfrau) May 22, 2019
As a native San Franciscan and Californian let me give THREE BIG CHEERS to the Trump Administration for his bold move here! No more of our hard earned money should be wasted on this boondoggle!
— Cathy E (@CAS6362) May 22, 2019
California highspeed boondoggle project.
— marjie Rose (@marjieros) May 22, 2019
Wonderful! Thank you, Mr. President… a farce project not getting done, many times over budget, and a decade behind schedule, and lied to by California leadership.
— Wayne Dunlap (@wdunlap) May 22, 2019
A high speed rail that’s been cancelled and was already over budget?
— Joshua (@Joshua_m4) May 22, 2019
It was cancelled so now they don’t get the money designated for the project.
— Rene7897 (@Sleepyrene) May 22, 2019
California stole the money and decided to cancel the train
— wanda (@SoutherngalDec) May 22, 2019
The dream of high-speed rail from Pixley to Hooterville, paid for by people in the other 49 states, still lives in our hearts, though.
— Ian Braney (@braney) May 22, 2019
You mean the gigantic money pit that increased its cost to be built every other minute?
— CryptoLearnin (@CryptoLearnin) May 22, 2019
What a dumb headline. California aborted the high speed rail project. Of course CNBC knew this but their bias took precedent. So why should the feds be penalized for California’s mismanagement of a money pit that should never have been started.
— Bill Perry (@billjperry) May 22, 2019
Yes because its insanely over budget and won't even deliver what was promised.
— Carlos Danger (@Brooks8314) May 22, 2019
Because it is way over budget, known fact. Bad project managers.
— SRH (@SteveOnBeach) May 22, 2019
Bc they aren’t building it…. Bc its a disaster and the money should be spent literally anywhere else and be put to better use ?
— Ray Rhoads; Rhoads Organization (@Ray_R_Rhoads) May 22, 2019
Didn’t Newsom just create a “Homelessness Task Force”? Maybe take care of that first?
Good! I don’t want federal funds going to that shi* show!
— Kimberly Palko (@KimberlyPalko1) May 22, 2019
The first 119 miles of rail was going to cost $10B and be finished in 2020. Now it's estimated it cost $77.3B with completion in 2030. Typical CNBC half assed incomplete story. pic.twitter.com/iE41sQoyxy
— Epic. (@EpicDoubleTap02) May 22, 2019
I lived in Cali back in the 80s and 90s and they were talking about this imaginary train line. Quit being #propaganda
— iluvevery1 (@ashkkr) May 22, 2019
Given the tone of the story, parent company $GE must have some contracts on the line and sent the order down to whine about.
— Musings (@rchmusing) May 22, 2019
My infrastructure is an unpaved county road.
— Steve Bloomdahl (@stevebloomdahl0) May 22, 2019
You mean one of those dirt roads New York reporters find “terrifying”?
Ask Mexico for the money.
— Rich Osborne (@ROS17885410) May 22, 2019
Related:
Gavin Newsom thinks Trump asking for return of billions feds gave Calif. for canceled rail project is ‘political retribution’ https://t.co/2x4lHeHSO5
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 20, 2019
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