Ray LaHood’s HSR Smackdown

[marmar]

from the Infrastructurist:




Ray LaHood’s HSR Smackdown
Urban Nation | Willy Staley | Dec 17th, 2010


Just last week, the Ray LaHood’s Department of Transportation pulled high-speed rail funding from Ohio and Wisconsin, the two states with incoming Republican governors, John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who both swore to oppose the projects. They got their wish, and the $1.2 billion they had been promised is now being redistributed among the 13 other states with rail projects in the works.

LaHood’s decision was smart. If the new Republican governors are opposed to receiving the money mostly on an anti-Washington-spending basis, which was the central narrative of the midterm elections, then they have only shown that they can hurt their state in the long-run by turning it down, in two ways.

First, and most obvious, the money didn’t stay in federal coffers—it’s just being redistributed to states that are willing to cooperate with Washington, and invest in their own infrastructure. They have not removed any tax burden from their state, for now—this was grant money, not loan money, so the burden would be spread all across the land—though they cited fears that the high-speed rail projects would require subsidies later on.

The second reason this is unwise is that these states will leave themselves less competitive in the long-run. The high-speed rail network is designed to connect large quantities of human capital together in a more efficient, sustainable fashion. Should petroleum become more expensive, as many suspect it will within our lifetime, then these regions that have not invested in rail will be hurting even worse than they are now. Further, as Richard Florida would point out, rounding up a bunch of people into these hubs, you can find new efficiencies and even new industries, and there is shared economic growth. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://americancity.org/columns/entry/2799/

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. I agree with Mr LaHood. I also think that 2009 stimulus money should

have been withheld from those states whose Reps, Senators and Governors all decried it.

Why I am not a politician, I guess.

[HelenWheels]

2. I'm from WI

and I loath Scott Walker, gov. elect. He is a real jerk and his Lt. Gov. is even worse, if that's possible.

[madrchsod]

9. did you read this

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_e17a4f96-07bb-11e0-9379-001cc4c03286.html


the money went for the rail line from chicago to galena il. it`s a very scenic line from chicago through the "mountains of illinois"

[TlalocW]

3. There would have been so many jobs created in those states

From the construction jobs to the jobs associated with running the trains/stations to "satellite" jobs - new restaurants, motels/hotels, places of entertainment to secondary "satellite" jobs - suppliers to the satellite jobs, etc.

I think a combination of stupidity, allegiance to the right-wing belief of not relying on the federal government for anything, and being in the pocket of the automobile industry probably contributed, but I'm betting it was mostly stupidity.

TlalocW

[Merlot]

4. I don't think it's stupidity.

IMO it's a desire to oppose anything Democratic/Obama, and if it's hurts the state and it's people that's ok with them. Their whole goal is to dismantle the government anyhow, So they can't have something the gov't does actually improving things for citizens.

Citizens are just roadkill to them.

I do feel bad for the people who are missing out on the jobs and development in their states, but being in a state that's getting MORE money because of the meanness of the govs, well, that's the upside.

[tblue37]

5. The majority of voters in those states foolishly put the

Republicans into those elective offices. I only feel sorry for the ones who voted Dem, not for the ones who voted R or stayed home.

[Merlot]

6. Yes, those that foolishly voted for the repubs are getting what they deserve

The dems in those states are being held hostage. The votes were foolish, but the gov's are mean spirited and spiteful.

[elocs]

7. Voters in WI were no more foolish than in all the other states that chose Republicans over Democrats

None of this happens in a vacuum and a lot of WI voters were and still are royally pissed at Democratic Governor Doyle who chose not to run because he would have had his ass handed to him. Very many Democrats were not happy with him either.

[LiberalFighter]

8. The company that was going to provided manufactured goods decided to close shop in WI

because of Walker's decision.

[madrchsod]

10. a japanese rail-car manufacturer is building a plant in rochelle il

i`m wondering if the spanish company will move to rochelle. the up and bn railroads cross at rochelle.