Richard Rider wrote this analysis of the effort. He is right on target. “Governor Brown claims that CA HSR will cost “a lot less” than the current $100 billion figure that “people are saying” it’s going to cost. And he found a gold mine of free money that’s going to pay for it. The man needs some serious drug testing.
Jerry, $100 billion is not “what people are saying” HSR is going to cost. It’s what the PEER REVIEW EXPERTS and the LEGISLATIVE ANALYST’S OFFICE (among others) say it’s going to cost — at a minimum. Actually, to be fair, with the usual cost overruns, they suggest it will cost about $117 billion. And it’s unlikely that will even include San Diego at all.
And Jerry, you think that AB32 “cap and trade” fees (a separate disaster) are to be considered mad money — free funds that can be frivolously spent with no concerns about the state’s far more pressing needs — including that public education thingy.
Frankly I hope the governor “stays on track,” barreling done the line to his HSR train wreck. This nonsense will serve as the poster child for us opponents of further raising California taxes. It all but assures our 8th straight voter victory against higher tax propositions.”
The annual spending plan Brown released this month included $1 billion in cap-and-trade revenue for programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The budget document lacked detail, however, saying, “Further detail on specific program areas will be developed when there is more certainty of fees received from the Cap and Trade Program.”
Jerry Brown
An American politician and Barack Obama’s brother. Won the race for governor ’10 in California.
January 31, 2012 at 3:25 am