Is an 'end-run' in the works for SunRail?

CSX/SunRail critics are alarmed by proviso language that appeared today in the Senate budget bill, saying it could clear the way for the state to proceed with the controversial deal even if the bill currently encountering trouble does not pass.

Page 248 reads: From the funds in Specific Appropriations 1999, 2005, and 2009, the department may complete an escrowed closing on the pending Central Florida Rail Corridor acquisition; provided, however, the drawdown of such escrowed closing funds shall not occur unless and until final Federal Transit Administration full-funding grant agreement approval is obtained for the proposed Central Florida Commuter Rail Transit Project Initial Operating Segment.

"I'm concerned something like this is popping up at the very last minute as a potential end-run on a bill that is having difficulty moving and seems to be gaining opposition by the day," said Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland.

Comments

[gobie]

Sounds like Senator Alexander trying to protect his investment in Phoenix a company reaping millions from its ties with CSX. This deal stinks.

[Conserv]

They don't call Alexander "Slick Willie" for nothing.

[Billy]

J.D. makes his move. Come on, guys. Point out what J.D. stands to gain when writing about anything that just "appears" in the budget bill.

[Mark]

No surprise that J.D. would try to slip this language through. Not only would he personally benefit because of his connections to Phoenix Industries, a "preferred partner" with CSX, he stands a better chance of getting his Heartland Expressway by putting all those trucks on the road.

[Gail]

Wait! I thought this deal wouldn't close unless Florida immunizes CSX! Are they saying that's no longer a deal breaker?

[Andrea]

Why in a year when we have NO money in our state budget, when we are cutting education and social services TO THE BONE, does our state government feel entitled to pass this deal???? I can think of far better uses for the millions and millions of dollars than in the hands of CSX: our students and our elderly. STOP THE "STUN" RAIL!

[Susan G]

How much money have they escroed for that thing? I heard DOT delayed road projects in other parts of the state to put that money in Orlando. Give it back! We need our tunnel!

[Shannon H]

This is why people don't trust politicians. They say one thing and hide another on page 248.

[Thibault]

If the State decides to go through with the commuter rail project closing anyway, I have no choice but to file a formal complaint with the DOT Inspector General. With respect to this project, I have evidence of contract and procurement fraud, conflict of interest and ethics violations and the making of false statements and claims by FDOT. I'm not sure what the ultimate outcome will be but I think the Full Funding Grant Agreemet would be off the table completely.

Who knows? We may be gearing up for another "infamous" hearing similar to the Iran-Contra Hearings only instead of Oliver North, FDOT would be front and center.

[Rosemary G]

This is exactly how sovereign immunity got extended to Tri-Rail contractors in South Florida. First someone slipped it into proviso language. Then, someone slipped it into a several-hundred page transportation bill. Never was it publicly discussed, yet it's supposed to be the model for the state.
It's a model alright -- for politics at its worst.

Rosemary Goudreau
WrongTrack4Florida.com

[Hey Rosemary, A Question....]

Rosemary, did you return your $40,000 fee for the "no work no bid write it on a napkin no one will care" deal to the taxpayers who kick into the LDDA of Lakeland?
That was politics at its worst, my friend.

[railrunner]

If this is such a great deal, why does it have to get slipped through in the dead of night like Jeb Bush originally pushed it through?

[in lakeland]

Outrageous! With JD's personal profits tied up in this, this has to be illegal! St. Pete...this is what we need you for! Dig into the history of where the money came from! It was general funds!!! Look at how JD stands to profit! The is Pulitzer Prize winning guys if you just look at what is already in front of you and WRITE ABOUT IT!!!!!

[tallywatch]

Pretty clever, JD! Page 248. You learned to pull the levers well, Obi Wan!

[miamimike]

The real outrage here is that DOT can close this $2 billion, money-shuffling deal without legislative approval, if only CSX would agree to forego indemnity. The sleight of hand in this budget language suggests CSX might be willing to reopen the contract. If that's the case, there's a lot more that needs changing, too.

[Thibault]

If the State decides to go through with the commuter rail project closing anyway, I have no choice but to file a formal complaint with the DOT Inspector General. With respect to this project, I have evidence of contract and procurement fraud, conflict of interest and ethics violations and the making of false statements and claims by FDOT. I'm not sure what the ultimate outcome would be but I think the Full Funding Grant Agreement would be off the table immediately.

Who knows?
We may be gearing up for another "infamous" hearing similar to the Iran-Contra Hearings only instead of Oliver North, FDOT would be front and center.

[rachel]

So what happens? We buy the tracks against the will of the legislature because JD is in charge of the budget and he wants to pad his own pockets? He is so blatant about it!! Where are the ethics complaints? Sansom was persecuted for far less!

This project was never discussed openly and honestly. This is bad government and must be stopped.

[Rosemary G]

Reply to Hey Rosemary,
If you think no work was done, you haven't been paying attention. Check out WrongTrackk4Florida.com.
Don't know about the napkin, but do know this is a bad deal that needs to be redone. And as more people find out the terms of this terrible deal, they agree.
Rosemary

[WORAM]

Pres. Atwater needs to put a stop to these shenanigans. If the deal camn not withstand the scrutiny, then it should fail. If the money cam from Gen Revenue, then it should be decided by the legislature how to best spend it in these bad economic times. If we can raid the Lawton Chiles trust fund, we can raid the CSX fund.

[Stavroula]

I loved Thibault's comment on the
Iran-Contra Hearings but I'm sure FDOT would take the "Fifth".

[rachel]

So what happens? We buy the tracks against the will of the legislature because JD is in charge of the budget and he wants to pad his own pockets? He is so blatant about it!! Where are the ethics complaints? Sansom was persecuted for far less!

This project was never discussed openly and honestly. This is bad government and must be stopped.

[Sippel Chicago]

A former Head of State stands to make approximately $24 million for "brokering" this deal. Legally, you can't touch him or his impending windfall however just the criminal "innuendos" will have far reaching implications.

[Mad Tax Payer]

How are JD's obvious conflicts not front page news! St Pete, where are you? Write the story why don't ya!

[Orlampa]

Rosemary-

The $40,000 was given to you from the LDDA to help the City of Lakeland publicly combat increased train traffic as a result of SunRail. You just went completely rogue (and off mission) and they cut ties with you. I guess contracts hand-written on printer paper hold up in court.....or at least you fooled the LDDA into thinking it would!

[Unrealized]

Repiggies at the trough again... Maybe this is where the missing $1 billion in the cigarette tax has gone! To buy J.D. his train.

[Not surprised]

I wish that I could say I was surprised but this is par for the cour$e. Wait till they hear about this on the radio.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=594918

[Thibault]

If the State decides to go through with the commuter rail closing anyway, I have no choice but to file a formal complaint with the DOT Inspector General. With respect to this project, I have evidence of contract and procurement fraud, conflict of interest and ethics violations and the making of false statements and claims by FDOT. I'm not sure what the ultimate outcome would be but I think the Full Funding Grant Agreement would be off the table immediately.

AND I'M NOT BLUFFING

[Ms. Newberry]

This is truly disgusting. Dyer must have not thought that he could get his choo choo train for Orlando going, so he had to have this language slipped into the budget. Whatever happened to government in the sunshine in Florida? Are any lawmakers not corrupt enough to not have just said no? Oh....that's right. They all have their hands in on this transaction as well. Our lawmakers at work. Aren't you proud?

[Citizensneedthis]

The yays have it!!!

[Citizensneedthis]

People don't trust Paula because of her family's track record with train proposals. She poured millions of dollars into helping the bullet train idea and hurting Sunrail. Paula should be ashamed of her ego fed wishy washiness. Sunrail is good for everyone. Finally we won't have to fight traffic on I-4 on our way to work. Sunrail will lessen traffic and carbon emmissions, and create jobs. Maybe the trial lawyers will hire her "officially" when she retires. That's who she is working for now. Citizens cannot count on Paula no matter how many websites and deceptive "public awareness" campaigns she creates.

[Lets be reasonable]

when all else fails put it in proviso! Its good that there are still some people oblivious enough to trash Sen. Dockery for having a spine. I don't know what we would do if every person on the blog suddenly started using logic.

I gotta tell you, for a party that just got OWNED in the last election this is a gutsy move. Greer should be opposing simply from an "impossible to defend" standpoint.

[me thinks thou are RIDICULOUS]

Citizensneedthis-
if you are going to ride this train to avoid I-4 traffic where will it take you? Are you going to jump off and walk around on the pedestrian friendly streets of Orlando?
Sounds to me like you may be employed by everybody's favorite law firm paid to sell this travesty of public policy and fiscal responsibility.

[Ellen]

We've been told that our system of government's checks & balances prevent this kind of abuse by J.D. Alexander, Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist and others. But, those checks & balances are rendered impotent when people in positions of power collude to commit fraud.

Supporters of commuter rail need to understand that opponants are not against commuter rail, we're just against commuter rail plans designed solely to benefit a very few at the cost of education and other major quality of life issues.

[Rosemary G]

Mr. Orlampa.
You’re wrong.
The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority hired me to conduct a public-education campaign that would be successful if Florida leaders did these three things:
1. Rejected the pending flawed deal with CSX and agreed to take a strategic, comprehensive approach to the transportation challenges facing communities and commerce in this state.
2. Agreed that inter-city passenger rail deserves as much consideration as freight rail when deals are cut in Tallahassee.
3. Understood that we are all in this together and that Florida needs a better, more-inclusive plan – the right track – for solving the state’s transportation challenges.
The LDDA, a tiny agency at the bottom of the food chain, felt its future threatened for having hired a public advocate. But I’ve done what I promised I’d do, and feel pretty good that WrongTrack4Florida.com has helped people who support rail-transit (myself, included) understand what a terrible deal this particularly sale represents. It’s the most expensive rail sale ever, it would set precedent by indemnifying a freight railroad that uses taxpayer-owned tracks, and it would do very, very little to relieve congestion on I-4.
I’m happy to be transparent about my part in exposing the terrible terms of the CSX deal. Perhaps now you’ll probe the money being spent on the 200-plus lobbyists and four PR firms trying to push this deal through, no matter the means.
Rosemary Goudreau

[Truth]

This is a great deal for the state! Everyone knows it. The people of central Florida cannot afford to let a couple of senators prevent such a great deal from taking place. Luckily, the process provides avenues to circumvent the foolishness of a few elected officials. It's amusing watching Paula squirm in the face of defeat, again. And yes, the budget process is transparent. If it weren't, it would not be fodder for "public advocates" or Paula's blog blurbs.

[Conserv]

Atwater won't step up because JD is his boy. Watch and learn. Alexander needed one more term because he couldn't deliver the last go around.

[JD has "little" man syndrome]

Truth at 4:31....You evidenlty need to recount your "few Senators" that oppose sunrail. Last time I checked they were the majority. This back door tactic was only done because your "boy" new damn well he was the real loser! Venus envy again....shame on you.

[JD has "little" man syndrome]

btw HIGH FIVE Shannon H!!! LOL