GOP High-Speeds Past Fiscal Sanity
Earlier this month I wrote an April Fool’s post about the NCGOP abandoning any semblance of conservative principles, relinquishing majority control of the General Assembly, and agreeing to a power-sharing deal with Democrats. Enough people thought it was a legitimate story that we had to convince them it was a spoof. Here’s the reason why –
This from the Carolina Business Journal:
Republicans in the N.C. General Assembly will drop their opposition to accepting $545 million in federal money for high-speed rail projects, state Sen. Bob Rucho told Charlotte business leaders Friday.
Rucho, a Matthews Republican, said he discussed the issue Thursday with Phil Berger, the state Senate president, and both agreed the money should be accepted.
…
State Rep. Ric Killian (R-Mecklenburg) introduced a bill last month to reject the money. Rucho, during his appearance Friday at the Charlotte Chamber Transportation Summit, said he didn’t know whether Killian planned to rescind the bill. Instead, he said Republicans would support moving ahead with the projects, including adding tracks between Charlotte and Greensboro and increasing passenger service between Charlotte and Raleigh.
Recall that the high-speed rail project in question will shave all of 13 minutes off the travel time from Charlotte to Raleigh, which translates to more than $35 million per minute for the project’s cost. So sure, full steam ahead.
Also, contrary to popular claims that the project will create about 4,800 jobs, reality is it will only create about 1,200 jobs that will disappear in four years. So, again, sure – full steam ahead.
You would be hard pressed to come up with a campaign more effective than this to implode the trust and confidence of conservative voters who helped the GOP regain control of the General Assembly.
Well done, gentlemen. Full steam ahead.
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