By Janet Zink and Alex Leary, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

In Print: Saturday, March 5, 2011



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TALLAHASSEE

After the state Supreme Court ruled in his favor and the federal government begrudgingly accepted his refusal, Gov. Rick Scott emerged victorious Friday in his effort to kill high-speed rail in Florida.

The death knell came when the court turned down a last-minute lawsuit from two state senators to save the Tampa-Orlando line and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced he would send $2.4 billion earmarked for Florida to other states.

“I know that states across America are enthusiastic about receiving additional support to help bring America’s high-speed rail network to life and deliver all its economic benefits to their citizens,” LaHood said shortly after he talked by phone with Scott, who rejected the money for a third time.

The midmorning announcements within minutes of each other brought abrupt closure to two weeks of uncertainty that started when Scott formally declared Feb. 16 he didn’t want the money that had been accepted last year by the Legislature and then-Gov. Charlie Crist.

Sens. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing that Scott overstepped his executive authority with the decision, but in a terse, one-page ruling, the justices sided unanimously with Scott.

“The Court has reviewed the petition, response, and reply, has heard oral argument, and has considered the factual allegations and legal arguments,” reads the ruling. “Based on the limited record before the Court and a review of the federal and state law relied on by the

Article source: http://feeds.stateline.org/~r/StatelineorgRss-Transportation/~3/1xczgNhPcRM/1155233