TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — The Florida Supreme Court has upheld Gov. Rick Scott's authority to kill the proposed Orlando-Tampa high-speed rail line.
The justices today rejected a bipartisan challenge to the Republican governor's refusal to accept $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money for the project.
The high court put the case on a fast track because U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood had given Scott until today to accept the money or lose it to similar projects in other states.
Scott has refused, saying he's afraid Florida taxpayers may be on the hook for billions in cost overruns and operating subsidies.
State Sens. Arthenia Joyner, a Tampa Democrat, and Thad Altman, a Viera Republican, disagreed and sued Scott, arguing he had to accept the money.
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