Wisconsin, Ohio GOP.Corp governors blow off high-speed rail money and 30,000 jobs

[JohnWxy]

Republican Govs. Blow Off Money for Jobs



WISCONSIN, OHIO REJECT FUNDS FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL.... The United States has an infrastructure problem. We're currently "saddled with a rapidly decaying and woefully underfunded transportation system," which undermines our economy and weakens our position against global competitors.

A bipartisan investigation recently found that U.S. investment in preservation and development of transportation infrastructure "lags so far behind that of China, Russia and European nations that it will lead to 'a steady erosion of the social and economic foundations for American prosperity in the long run.'"__(my emphasis_JW)

The Obama administration has made infrastructure a priority. Some newly-elected Republican governors don't care.

Gov.-elect Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Gov.-elect John Kasich in Ohio campaigned on pledges to stop passenger-rail projects in their states. On Thursday, they got their wish.



http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/12/14/republican-govs-blow-off-money-for-jobs/

In two states where workers are desperate for jobs—Wisconsin, where the jobless rate is 9.4 percent, and Ohio, where it’s 9.9 percent—the incoming governors rejected $1.2 billion in federal funding for high-speed rail projects, which would have created tens of thousands of good jobs.

Republican Governors-elect Scott Walker (Wis.) and John Kasich (Ohio) have turned away hundreds of millions of dollars to build the rail lines and buy the made-in-America equipment because their states would have to share a few million dollars a year in operating costs. That’s like turning down a free car because you have to pay for gas.


Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt said Walker’s rejection of the rail project is a clear indication that:

our elected leaders are putting political ideology above the needs of Wisconsin working families…15,000 family sustaining jobs were lost today, and the callous, short-sighted actions that cost our state so much will not soon be forgotten.

Says AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) President Edward C. Wytkind:

We wonder if voters in Ohio and Wisconsin will feel buyers’ remorse when they learn that their governors want to kill 30,000 jobs.

[randr]

1. You gotta dance with who brought ya!

I hope there is a way to bypass these states with a new interstate mass transit system!

[elocs]

2. My paper's editorial about what GOP gov-elect Walker has already done to Wisconsin:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x48

[TlalocW]

3. Sheeesh

Walker is especially stupid in his reasoning. Part of his returning the money was he wanted it to go to fixing up roads and bridges. A noble goal, but one he couldn't use the funds for. I don't know where the GOP gets its reputation for being good at business because he never bothered to think about all the tax money that's going to come from the jobs that would be created in his state - not only the construction ones but the maintenance jobs and then all the satellite businesses that are going to be created (or expanded) - like restaurants, motels/hotels, etc. which in turn will create/expand their satellite businesses (food suppliers, furniture stores, electronics, etc.) The tax revenue from those jobs would easily pay to help fix up the state's roads. Maybe not all at once, but then you can't fix all the roads at the same time either.

TlalocW

[JohnWxy]

4. Note that this is not make work program. IT's investment in infrastructure and an upgrade in infra-

structure. Much needed investments-which will have to be made sooner or later.

GOP.corp just don't want any stimulus to economy during Obama's/Dems watch.

[guruoo]

5. I believe the money they refuse will divided up among the states willing to accept it

[fatbuckel]

6. I'm from Ohio, that tool kasich wanted to use the money for other things and when he could'nt

he killed the project. " If I can't play my way, I'll take my Barbies and go home" But that's what the people wanted so…

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. All the more for my area.

Thanks OH and WI, for having such idiots in your capitol.

[midnight]

8. Is there no other way to work around these two uneducated Gov.?