Florida governor takes credit for high-speed rail cut in budget deal

Florida Gov. Rick Scott took credit this week for the elimination of $1.5 billion in high-speed rail money included in last week's deal to avoid a federal government shutdown.

The Republican said his rejection of $2.4 billion the Obama administration had offered Florida showed Congress they should cut the overall rail money.

“I am proud to have brought this waste to the attention of those in Washington,” Scott said in a statement released by his office. “These funds should either be returned to taxpayers as tax cuts or applied to reducing the burden that our national debt is passing to future generations.”

Congress had appropriated $2.5 billion for high-speed rail last year, but House Republicans were intent on cutting at least $1 billion of it this year.

The $2.4 billion that had been slated to go to Florida includes money from the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, so it was not all included in the 2011 budget deal.

Additionally, Department of Transportation officials told The Hill this that the budget cut would not affect grants that have already been offered.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has made Florida's $2.4 billion available to other states. He said 24 states, the District of Columbia and Amtrak had applied for it.

LaHood said the response showed their was "bipartisan enthusiasm" for high-speed rail, despite rejections of the money by Scott and Republican governors in Ohio and Wisconsin.