Dear Senator Altman,
Unfortunately for you, the Supreme Court did not agree re the Governor's power to reject the High Speed Rail funds.

I find it disturbing that you, as a Republican, could not see past the Democrats' propaganda on this issue.  Most of the jobs you refer to would be TEMPORARY jobs, as the Federal money would have basically been used for the CONSTRUCTION of this rail system.  Once constructed, the direct and indirect jobs associated with this project would be GONE, and Florida taxpayers would then be on the hook for the maintenance and upkeep of the system, especially should ridership not meet expectations.  I DOUBT that the ridership would meet or exceed these expectations, because of one thing:  FLORIDIANS AND TOURISTS LOVE THEIR CARS.  They like to travel to the whole state, not just the portions politicians want them to see.

This High Speed Rail System throughout the country is one of the biggest SCHEMES I have ever heard of.  SCHEME?  Yes, there is method to the madness.  Obama wants to put 34 billion into a national system THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD and DO NOT NEED in our country at this point.  Scheme?  Yes, because the goal is to make the States that fall for the scheme to become so beholding to the Federal government that it will move this country even closer to a Socialist state. 

Why not put the 34 billion - or whatever the true figure really is - into OFFSHORE DRILLING?  This would not only make tens of thousands of temporary AND PERMANENT jobs for our State, small businesses would thrive, bring "oil" revenues to our State and our Country, but would in addition, help reduce our dependence on foreign, especially Mid-East oil.  Any President that doesn't see that this would be more beneficial to our country than a few fancy high-speed rails that have not been proven to be profitable, is NOT thinking of the overall welfare of our Country.

People just aren't that stupid, and you need to heed the message voters sent in November.  We DO NOT WANT MORE SPENDING, no matter how fluffy the President and his cronies make it sound.

JK