Posted on 06/26/2006 9:05:34 PM PDT by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO - Legislation that would sidetrack a $9.95 billion high-speed rail bond measure for the second time was approved by the Legislature on Monday without debate.
By votes of 33-0 in the Senate and 60-0 in the Assembly, lawmakers approved a bill by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, that would remove the measure from this November's ballot and place it on the November 2008 ballot.
The action sent the bill to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Lawmakers initially placed the bond measure on the November 2004 ballot, then decided the state faced more pressing needs and bumped the bonds back to this year's ballot.
After lawmakers decided to add more than $37 billion in transportation, flood control, school and housing bonds to this November's ballot, the high-speed rail measure became a casualty again.
Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City, said the new two-year delay was "intended to keep high-speed rail alive and win approval of other bonds on the November ballot."
The high-speed rail bond measure would generate about half the funding needed to build a rail line linking Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno and San Francisco with trains running at top speeds of more than 200 mph.
Plans call for the system to be expanded so it also eventually reaches San Diego and Sacramento.
ON THE NET
Read the bill, AB713, at http://www.assembly.ca.gov and http://www.senate.ca.gov
Does the Cal legislature finally have priorities in order?!?
Don't get your hopes up.
They're just desperate to make their $37 Billion look attractive to voters and want to elimnate distractions. It will be back.
I would have preferred they put them all on the ballot so we can reject the whole kit and caboodle!
More "pressing needs" than Infrastructure??
You mean like GLBT outreach programs??
GAy/Lib social programming for elementary students?
High rise School Board buildings?
Subsidized Windmills?
Subsidized Stem Cell research?
Etc,etc, adn?
Well, you have November to let them know how you really feel. Good luck.
In January 2004, Arnold pushed to get it removed from the November 2004 ballot saying the state couldn't afford the interest payments on the bond. At least, not in addition to the $15 Billion Prop 57/68 Borrowing Bonanza that he was pushing at the time.
"so it also eventually reaches San Diego"
Hell yes, THAT's what Kali needs, a 200 MPH train to get the illegals away from the border region as fast as possible!
At this point, calling Kali the land of fruits and nuts would be too complimentary.
Arnoid doesn't "vant" this goofy speedy choo choo! He "vant's" his "Hydrogen Highway" for his Hydrogen Hummer which won't "verk" till he gits a Hydrogen Nooclear Plant in each of our 58 counties!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!
If they put a bond measure to widen I-5 to 4 lanes in each direction, I probably would vote for that. This year, I'm voting no on all spending and tax measures, as usual.
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