Trump administration to cancel $929 million in California high-speed rail funding

[Initech]

The fate of California’s high-speed rail project was cast into further doubt Tuesday when the federal government announced plans to cancel $929 million in grant funds, a move U.S. officials linked to violations of the grant agreement but some view as political payback.

The action marks an escalation in the battle between President Trump and the state of California since Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that the project lacked a path to complete a statewide system and vowed to scale back the $77-billion mega-project.

The Transportation Department also said it was “actively exploring every legal option” to get back an additional $2.5-billion grant that is being used to finance the construction of 119 miles of rail line in the Central Valley.

The two federal grants represent about one-fourth of all the funding for the project to date — money critical to completing the Central Valley portion and finishing environmental reviews for other segments between San Francisco and Los Angeles. If the funds are lost or tied up in a long legal battle, the state would probably have to either make up the money elsewhere or further curtail the project.

Newsom on Tuesday vowed to block the move, arguing that it was political payback by the Trump administration.
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-high-speed-rail-20190219-story.html

What a dick. He really has it in for my state. Fuck him.

[SWBTATTReg]

1. How nice and what a slap in the face to Calif. republicans too. Just charming. NT

[Initech]

3. Oh my MAGA friends are probably loving this.

Classic self-loathers maybe?

[NightWatcher]

2. Just like (and unlike) the pro wall people, Cali could do a Gofundme and raise it.

Then call it the Fuck trump Express!

[CrispyQ]

4. Because there are no republicans in California.

President Shithole

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

5. California's economy is fifth largest in the world. We just passed the U.K.

source

It must chap Fat Donnie's ass that we exist and that we really don't care if he does. California is doing quite well, thank you. Our requests for government funds enables us to have some of the federal tax money we pay each year returned for our use.

We are a "maker" state. We pay more in federal taxes than we receive back in government benefits. Many of the red states are "taker" states, receiving billions of dollars more in government benefitsnthan they pay in taxes.

11 states pay more in federal taxes than they get back — here's how every state fares

A lot of federal tax money is immediately rerouted back to the states in the form of grants, which the state uses to spend on resources. But in some states, some taxpayers are left spending more in taxes than what they receive back in federal services.
...

[A New York State Comptroller] report examines the flow of funds between the federal government and each state for the federal fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2017, based on data from federal budget documents, the IRS, the US Census Bureau, and other sources.

We described the difference as the balance of payments. For example, California's balance of payments is -$13.7 billion. This means California residents get less in return than they pay for. However, Iowa has a balance of payments of $2.5 billion, meaning Iowa residents receive $2.5 billion more in federal services than what they pay in taxes.

The difference per capita means how much the average state resident received in federal services versus what they paid in federal taxes. In California, each resident is sending in $348 more than they get back. In Iowa, each resident is receiving $797 more back in federal services than they paid in taxes. The majority of states received more in federal services than what they pay in federal taxes.

more

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I doubt Fat Donnie can just "take back" money from states he doesn't like and transfer it to his pet projects. I have a feeling his gambit on his wall is going to determine that, once and for all.

[Initech]

6. Conservatives *REALLY* have it in for California.

And the short answer is they hate us, cause they ain't us. But even those who live here talk about how miserable they are because this state doesn't represent their values. Don't like it? Move!

[lpbk2713]

7. Wall funding. He's not giving up easily.

I hope he's not around when it's time for him to spend it.