Home > Uncategorized > Dems blast Killian for rejecting high-speed rail funds, jobs (video)

Dems blast Killian for rejecting high-speed rail funds, jobs (video)

Post on April 5, 2011 by 11 Comments »

The House Transportation Committee will resume its debate of House Bill 422 next week. During Tuesday hearing, Rep. Ric Killian explained his objections to accepting federal money and obligating North Carolina to maintain a high-speed passenger rail line in the future.

After Killian finished his remarks, the NC DOT Secretary, three mayors, and two of Killian’s own colleagues questioned the wisdom of turning down $500 million from the federal government that would create hundreds of new jobs.

Click below to hear the full exchange:

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Comments (Closed):7

  1. Frances
    April 5, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    We are going off a cliff. We are broke. We are broke.

  2. Thomas
    April 6, 2011 at 12:53 am

    Yes, Yes. The GOP Double Talk is mind-boggling. We’re too broke to invest at home, but we must continue funding Halliburton and Blackwater to Maintain the American empire, and to end the wars is somehow treasonous. Secondly, for 8 years Republicans destroyed the balanced budget Clinton produced, to suddenly rediscover fiscal conservatism now that they’ve lost power.

    With gas prices going past $4 a gallon, we need to start investing in Transportation for the future.
    The only reason the GOP says otherwise is because they’d rather give the $$$ to their friends at Exxon-Mobil.

  3. Sharon
    April 6, 2011 at 6:43 am

    WE APPLAUD REP KILLIAN. High Speed Rail is a boondoggle that we cannot afford: cost overruns of at least 45%, fares cover only about 25% of operating costs, requires huge subsidies and does not relieve congestion as touted as ridership is always overstated (while costs grossly understated). FL successfully defeated burdening taxpayers with a risky high speed rail that would never be able to sustain itself financially over the long term.
    Hope Killian stands his ground as high speed rail COSTS TOO MUCH, DOES TOO LITTLE and BENEFITS TOO FEW and is a BOONDOGGLE of special interests, politicians, taxpayer funded agencies who appear to think taking federal debt dollars is “free” money. Time to simply SAY NO!

  4. Frances
    April 6, 2011 at 7:54 am

    Sharon is exactly right. I took Amtrak to Washington last week, and the train was dirty, bathrooms were awful, and the staff was totally rude. That will be my last ride, high speed or not.

  5. Jack
    April 6, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    You say that high speed rail requires huge subsidies. Sounds like your talking about businesses that the state subsidies to stay put. That’s a process that is accessible by members of NCGA.

    Taking federal dollars is “free” money sounds like what Wall Street did and that seemed to be okay for a lot of people whose vision for no jobs and smaller government is taking hold.

    Who are you really talking about? Seems like you’ve found universal wording that applies no matter what the issue.

  6. steve
    April 15, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    @Frances:
    You may have been on it during an off day or had the wrong expectations. The conductor is not there as a waiter. He is there to check tickets and make sure that everyone is behaving. Did you go up to the dinning car? It’s usually empty there and there is more room.

    I’ve traveled a few times via amtrak [Dur->Clt] and one round trip to DC, I’ve had no complaints in regards to service. Additionally, if you’re being a bit picky about the quality, did you upgrade to first class. Its about $8 more.

  7. steve
    April 15, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    @Sharon:

    Yes florida rejected the funding. They did so by cutting off their leg to run a marathon. If the only two connection points for rail in Florida was Miami and Tampa ridership would be maxed out, and it would be flowing with cash. That is a long stretch of land, where the speed could be the equivalent of the DB’s ICE without the cost. Also who are you referring to as we? You must not be in an area benefited by amtrak.