Gov. Bobby Jindal, after high-profile criticism, says no to federal money for high-speed rail system

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Two days after MSNBC host Keith Olbermann mocked Gov. Bobby Jindal for possibly requesting federal stimulus money to build a light rail system between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, the governor's transportation secretary [William Ankner] wrote to President Barack Obama's administration saying Louisiana isn't interested.

...

The news came as a surprise to business leaders who backed the idea and had participated in preliminary discussions with Ankner.

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"Just because the state says it can't do it, doesn't mean the local communities shouldn't have a chance to figure it out," [baton Rouge Area Chamber President] Knapp said, adding that he plans to ask Ankner in writing to reconsider.

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Ankner offered [this] explanation to The Times-Picayune: "We never applied. We had sent a pre-application to preserve the option for us to apply. Once I reviewed the materials, it was obvious to me it didn't make any sense for us to apply, and this would not be a good use of taxpayer dollars."

Knapp declined to speculate on any politics behind the decision.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/200...er_highpro.html

[alienlovechild 75]

Seems like this was posted before. . . by the same person with the flawed memory. Wonder who that could be?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=213948

Edited August 23, 2009 by alienlovechild

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Two days after MSNBC host Keith Olbermann mocked Gov. Bobby Jindal for possibly requesting federal stimulus money to build a light rail system between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, the governor's transportation secretary [William Ankner] wrote to President Barack Obama's administration saying Louisiana isn't interested.

...

The news came as a surprise to business leaders who backed the idea and had participated in preliminary discussions with Ankner.

...

"Just because the state says it can't do it, doesn't mean the local communities shouldn't have a chance to figure it out," [baton Rouge Area Chamber President] Knapp said, adding that he plans to ask Ankner in writing to reconsider.

...

Ankner offered [this] explanation to The Times-Picayune: "We never applied. We had sent a pre-application to preserve the option for us to apply. Once I reviewed the materials, it was obvious to me it didn't make any sense for us to apply, and this would not be a good use of taxpayer dollars."

Knapp declined to speculate on any politics behind the decision.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/200...er_highpro.html

Come on AJ, you know that a shot at the GOP nomination is certainly more important than the interests of the state of Louisiana.

Edited August 23, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog

[AlHayatZween 2]

a la gran puta...

i hate politicians. that rail line would have been great all around, not that i would be here long enough to use it.

i saw a Bobby Jindal for Governor bumper sticker today, and had i been speedier with my digital camera, i would have made it my new avatar.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Swindle Jindal.

[GabiandVi 34]

Actually, Louisiana is only second in the country in terms of states suffering from the recession. Apparantly North Dakota is doing better than we are.

As for a high speed train between NO and BR, I would LOVE it. However, it would only be a convenience for me. It takes me all of 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive between the two cities. And there is very little daily/commuter traffic between the cities. It might add a negligible amount of tourism to BR, and maybe more BR residents would "tour" NO more often, and we could maybe make Baton Rouge Airport a more convenient satellite airport for NO, or vice versa. But if we wanted to spend money on more permanent stimulation for the economy of LA, we'd probably do better to build a link between NO and Houston. There is more regular commuting between those two cities. Also, much of NO's population and businesses have relocated to the Northshore since Katrina, and driving from the Northshore to BR via I-12 would be more convenient than driving into NO from the Northshore to catch a train to BR. Now a commuter train that serviced all of the Northshore and NO would be convenient, but I don't know how welcome. I certainly wouldn't want my childhood neighborhood any more polluted and urbanized than all those NOLA fleers have already made it.