Bills ask voters to stop the train

House and Senate measures in the works seek a referendum to reverse a 2000 vote mandating a state high-speed rail system.

By MICHAEL SANDLER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 21, 2003

TALLAHASSEE -- Momentum is building among a handful of Florida legislators who believe the time has come for voters to reconsider high-speed rail.

Legislators say they are facing an immediate budget crisis and growing concerns that the state would have to come up with the bulk of the money needed to pay for the bullet train, whose first legs would connect Orlando with Tampa and St. Petersburg.

With that in mind, Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate have come forward this week with proposals that could put the 2000 voter mandate back on the ballot for repeal in 2004, or perhaps during a special election.

Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, said Thursday he has filed a bill (HB 309) seeking to send the initiative back for a second referendum.

"We are on a runaway train," Allen said. "Usually that is a spectacular event to watch. But not with the economy."

Allen was joined at a news conference outside the House chambers by more than a half-dozen of his colleagues, many of whom spoke in support of his bill. Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, called high-speed rail "a wonderful project for the year 3000."

On the other side of the Capitol, Sen. Ron Klein, D-Delray Beach, is drafting a similar bill and said he would likely file it.

Earlier this week, Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, who is the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he might file a bill asking voters to considering postponing the project for three years, allowing the economy to come back.

Klein, who is vice chairman of that committee, said he was troubled to learn that two of the private companies bidding on the project put the state's commitment for the project at between $2.4-billion and $2.7-billion, or $75-million a year for the next 35 years.

The state received four bids. Klein said he wants to hear the other two before filing his bill.

"I just don't want the state of Florida to have to write a blank check," Klein said Thursday. "It appears the private businesses are putting the big financial burden on the state."

Gov. Jeb Bush shares that concern. Though Bush is traveling in Spain this week, a spokesman for the governor said high-speed rail may warrant a second look if the state's level of participation is too high.

Supporters of high-speed rail said the legislators took an oath that they would uphold the will of the voters, and hedging on high-speed rail violates that commitment.

C.C. "Doc" Dockery of Lakeland, who led the effort to get the initiative on the ballot in 2000, said he's certain the majority of legislators respect the voters' initial mandate.

"While he is not honoring his sworn oath, (Allen) is in a minority," Dockery said. "Most of the members of the Florida Legislature take their oath of office seriously and not as a casual mouthing of words."

Allen admitted being a vocal critic of high-speed rail in 2000, but said he admired people who supported the project. On Thursday he asked them not to attack the messenger.

"If I see it's going to hurt, I'll explain the position," Allen said. "I'll explain the details. And then, from then on, we'll let the voters decide what they may."

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