Sens. Arthenia Joyner, Thad Altman sue Gov. Rick Scott over high-speed rail


TALLAHASSEE — Two senators, Democrat Arthenia Joyner and Republican Thad Altman, filed a lawsuit Tuesday to stop Gov. Rick Scott from killing high-speed rail.

The suit asks the Florida Supreme Court to order Scott to "expeditiously accept" $2.4 billion in federal money awarded to build the line connecting Tampa to Orlando.

Altman and Joyner are listed as petitioners. Scott is listed as the sole respondent. The attorney for the senators is Clifton McClelland, Jr. from Melbourne.

Joyner, who represents Tampa, said that by refusing bullet-train money, Scott is costing jobs in Florida.

"It's all about jobs and getting Florida back to work," she said, echoing Scott's campaign motto.

The suit argues that Scott violated the state Constitution by exceeding the limits of his executive authority and treading on budget duties granted exclusively to the Legislature.

Appropriations, whether from state or federal sources, rest "exclusively" with the Legislature, not the governor, court documents say.

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