Gov. Walker costs Wisconsin millions

[Riot]

Gov. Walker (R - Wisconsin) campaigns against federal funding, then refuses it once elected, costing his state millions.

Then behind the citizens' back he tries to get some of that necessary federal funding back and can't.

So then he has to borrow to replace some of it, and puts his state in debt for millions.

Well done, fool. The perfect example of "low-information" citizens voting against their own best interests, and thus costing themselves millions.

Long article with much detail, just some below:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepo...125810723.html

Madison - The Legislature's budget committee voted 12-2 Tuesday to spend $31.6 million on the Milwaukee-to-Chicago passenger rail service, costs that could have largely been paid by a federal grant that would have extended passenger rail from Milwaukee to Madison.

Democrats backed the passenger rail measure. But they pointed to an estimate from the Legislature's nonpartisan budget office that found that at least $22.4 million of the additional costs stem from Republican Gov. Scott Walker's move to cancel an $810 million high-speed rail line connecting Madison to Milwaukee and Chicago.


Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) called the canceled contract an example of "Walker math" that is costly for the state.

"We had an opportunity to take advantage of federal funding in one of the tightest budgets in years," Taylor said.

[snip ... ]

That brings the total cost of the train car acquisition to roughly $70 million, about 47% more than the original $47.5 million price tag, according to the department's funding request.

But former Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi, who served under Doyle, has said most of the costs would have been covered by an $810 million federal stimulus grant awarded to Wisconsin last year to extend the Hiawatha to Madison, as part of a larger plan for high-speed trains connecting Chicago to the Twin Cities and other Midwestern destinations.

Walker, however, campaigned against the 110-mph route and after his election in November opposed it as governor-elect. The federal government then yanked the funds.

After the original grant was withdrawn, the Walker administration unsuccessfully sought $213.3 million in federal money earlier this year for Hiawatha upgrades, including additional trains, retrofitting the Talgo plant as a permanent maintenance base and improving the tracks between the plant and the downtown Amtrak station.

The costs of building and equipping both the temporary and permanent maintenance bases would have been covered by the $810 million federal grant. That grant also would have paid for more train cars and locomotives, which would have been serviced at a $52 million permanent base in Madison.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

Gov. Walker (R - Wisconsin) campaigns against federal funding, then refuses it once elected, costing his state millions.

And rather than paying down the debt with the returned money, Obama & Co. immediately distributed it among other states, IL being one of them.

You realize Federal Funding is eventually paid by federal taxes after accumulating years of interest. Either you reach in the right pocket or the left but you're going to have to pay. Unless you're part of the millions sucking on the tiat of Lady Liberty.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

And rather than paying down the debt with the returned money, Obama & Co. immediately distributed it among other states, IL being one of them.

Yup. This is a fantastic idea. We are in a slow recession recovery, with high unemployment. Money has never been cheaper to borrow. High speed rail addresses massive amounts of job creation (temporary and permanent), infrastructure development, current infrastructure repair, green development all in one fell swoop



Too bad your Governor turned all that down, and you now have to pay millions for him to borrow money on a state level that the Federal Government was going to give to you out of funds already appropriated.

Have fun with your state tax increase. You're still sucking hard at the teat of Lady Liberty, right? You are still using airplanes, airports, driving on interstate highways, buying OTC and Rx drugs, and food?

You know, if you folks that are so anti-government would just put your money where your mouths are, and give that up, you would decrease demand and maybe achieve your goal (in opposition to the founding fathers) that government doesn't do crap for the common good.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

Too bad your Governor turned all that down, and you now have to pay millions for him to borrow money on a state level that the Federal Government was going to give to you out of funds already appropriated.
.

Umm he passed a balanced budget bill so no worries and that won't be a problem. Appropriated funds need to be paid back just as unappropriated funds. Obama could learn a lot from WI!

If the railroad is ever built it will likely cost half under State supervision, providing the State jobs rather than dealing with the feds. IL will be responsible from the border to Chicago. Pretty close distance-wise so we'll be able to compare who's more efficient and cost effective!

[Riot]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Umm he passed a balanced budget bill so no worries and that won't be a problem.

ROFLMAO. This wasn't in the budget. This is extra.

Walker may have passed a balanced budget bill, but your budget most certainly not balanced, according to your states own watchdog orgs.

And why didn't Walker have the routine parts of the maintenance within this in his budget,then? Appears he's skipping items, holding them back, to "balance his budget" without including everything that's needed ?? Is Walker incompetent to do that, or is he lying?

So, three recall elections today - who do you think will win, the Democrats or the Republicans? I'll go out on a limb, and say the Democrats will take their state back.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

ROFLMAO.
So, three recall elections today - who do you think will win, the Democrats or the Republicans? I'll go out on a limb, and say the Democrats will take their state back.

2-1 (Hansen) GOP

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

ROFLMAO. This wasn't in the budget. This is extra.

Walker may have passed a balanced budget bill, but your budget most certainly not balanced, according to your states own watchdog orgs.

And why didn't Walker have the routine parts of the maintenance within this in his budget,then? Appears he's skipping items, holding them back, to "balance his budget" without including everything that's needed ?? Is Walker incompetent to do that, or is he lying?.

Plenty of useless expenditures and programs can be cut to offset and balance the budget. Besides business is expanding in WI at a higher rate than the country and that means more tax revenue! Without raising corporate taxes! Like I said Obama could learn a lot from the Badger State.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Plenty of useless expenditures and programs can be cut to offset and balance the budget. Besides business is expanding in WI at a higher rate than the country and that means more tax revenue! Without raising corporate taxes! Like I said Obama could learn a lot from the Badger State.

So you have a thousand excuses for your Governor lying to you, not giving you a balanced budget, and costing you millions above that.

Good luck with voting that way

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

So you have a thousand excuses for your Governor lying to you, not giving you a balanced budget, and costing you millions above that.

Good luck with voting that way

Even if that somehow turns out to be true, far better than your President with no promise of a balanced anything costing you and I trillions above trillions.

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

Yup. This is a fantastic idea. We are in a slow recession recovery, with high unemployment. Money has never been cheaper to borrow. High speed rail addresses massive amounts of job creation (temporary and permanent), infrastructure development, current infrastructure repair, green development all in one fell swoop



Too bad your Governor turned all that down, and you now have to pay millions for him to borrow money on a state level that the Federal Government was going to give to you out of funds already appropriated.

Have fun with your state tax increase. You're still sucking hard at the teat of Lady Liberty, right? You are still using airplanes, airports, driving on interstate highways, buying OTC and Rx drugs, and food?

You know, if you folks that are so anti-government would just put your money where your mouths are, and give that up, you would decrease demand and maybe achieve your goal (in opposition to the founding fathers) that government doesn't do crap for the common good.

If the high speed rail can't sustain itself without government and or tax payer funding why would you do it? Would a business build a new plant knowing that not only would the plant not make $, but it would never break even and continue to cost them money every year? Also the rail that was proposed was not high speed (you can drive your car faster) and it was not economical and went absolutely no where.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

If the high speed rail can't sustain itself without government and or tax payer funding why would you do it?

Walker is in the minority of that opinion that those federal funds for creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and doing all the upgrades and repairs your current lines need, and having additional paid for rail service wasn't worth it.

Well, until right after he turned the funds down, then he immediately petitioned to get the federal funds again.

So he apparently loves federal funds to pay for your trains. Just not when it's called what he campaigned against.

But Walker's in charge now. His opinion counts, not your previous legislature and governor that thought it was good for Wisconsin. Oh, well, Wisconsin's loss is other states' gain.

Too bad you guys now have to pay millions and millions over and above your budget for what the feds would have given you with the grant, to do your necessary repairs and upkeep on what you have now. In addition to the extra. So now you are even more in the hole on an old, needing-expensive-updates rail system.

Guess Walkers budget is no longer balanced.

Walker ... campaigned against the 110-mph route and after his election in November opposed it as governor-elect. The federal government then yanked the funds.

After the original grant was withdrawn, the Walker administration unsuccessfully sought $213.3 million in federal money earlier this year for Hiawatha upgrades, including additional trains, retrofitting the Talgo plant as a permanent maintenance base and improving the tracks between the plant and the downtown Amtrak station.

The costs of building and equipping both the temporary and permanent maintenance bases would have been covered by the $810 million federal grant.

That grant also would have paid for more train cars and locomotives, which would have been serviced at a $52 million permanent base in Madison.

[nebrady]

Don't you think its time that the us government stop giving money for these stupid rail projects and other programs. They need to realize like walker did that enough is enough and stop giving money to states when its broke! Its a joke how many trillions we owe. Its time for americans to stand up to idiots like obama, geitner and bernanke and say enough! Stop talking about fear and party rhetoric and realize that we need to quit spending high off the hog. Leave walker alone hes doing fine and seriously the train to milwaukee to madison was a dumb project.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by nebrady

Don't you think its time that the us government stop giving money for these stupid rail projects and other programs. They need to realize like walker did that enough is enough and stop giving money to states when its broke! Its a joke how many trillions we owe. Its time for americans to stand up to idiots like obama, geitner and bernanke and say enough! Stop talking about fear and party rhetoric and realize that we need to quit spending high off the hog. Leave walker alone hes doing fine and seriously the train to milwaukee to madison was a dumb project.

So you believe in massively cutting spending, and not creating jobs, during recessions and joblessness? Unique view!

And it's a shame, when your state is broke, and needs millions of dollars of repairs, that the federal government was going to give you a grant for it. Oh,well.

Now you'll just have to divide your personal cost share between the population of Wisconsin (dollars), rather than the population of the United States (pennies)

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

Walker is in the minority of that opinion that those federal funds for creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and doing all the upgrades and repairs your current lines need, and having additional paid for rail service wasn't worth it.

Well, until right after he turned the funds down, then he immediately petitioned to get the federal funds again.

So he apparently loves federal funds to pay for your trains. Just not when it's called what he campaigned against.

But Walker's in charge now. His opinion counts, not your previous legislature and governor that thought it was good for Wisconsin. Oh, well, Wisconsin's loss is other states' gain.

Too bad you guys now have to pay millions and millions over and above your budget for what the feds would have given you with the grant, to do your necessary repairs and upkeep on what you have now. In addition to the extra.

Guess Walkers budget is no longer balanced.

So you believe in taking $ for something that is not necessary and that will continue to cost the tax payers $, etc. after the funding runs out just because the federal government is willing to give WI some $ for to initially fund a portion of the project? Also you failed to mention that the majority of Wisconsinites did not want it.

You need to listen more to your democratic friend Steve Wynn.

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

So you believe in massively cutting spending, and not creating jobs, during recessions and joblessness? Unique view!

And it's a shame, when your state is broke, and needs millions of dollars of repairs, that the federal government was going to give you a grant for it. Oh,well.

Now you'll just have to divide your personal cost share between the population of Wisconsin (dollars), rather than the population of the United States (pennies)

Your right there is no job creation in WI since walker took office

“Wisconsin has added 26,400 private-sector jobs, including 13,100 manufacturing jobs, since Governor
Walker declared Wisconsin open for business,” Secretary Baumbach said. “Overall, the labor force is
growing, with more people working and more people looking for work. We are on pace to meet Governor
Walker’s goal of 250,000 jobs by 2015, and there is much more work to be done to get more Wisconsinites
trained and in family-sustaining jobs.”

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

So you believe in taking $ for something that is not necessary and that will continue to cost the tax payers $, etc. after the funding runs out just because the federal government is willing to give WI some $ for to initially fund a portion of the project? Also you failed to mention that the majority of Wisconsinites did not want it.

Well, the previous legislature, and the legislatures of multiple other states, reviewed the same data and saw that they would be getting upgrades to their current train system, and an additional expanded system, interconnecting their points of business with other points of business, and were very excited as they all judged it profitable for decades down the road.

Your previous legislature wanted it. Walker didn't. Gave it up.

But then, strangely, Walker immediately tried to get those funds back.

So are you angry or disappointed at Walker seeking the very federal funds he turned down, and promised not to take, or not?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

Your right there is no job creation in WI since walker took office

I never said that.

“Wisconsin has added 26,400 private-sector jobs, including 13,100 manufacturing jobs, since Governor
Walker declared Wisconsin open for business,”

Those are kind of truly amazing figures, compared to the number of jobs added nationally. Got a reference for where Secretary B. got those figures?

Edit: LOL never mind, I found it. Seems there are some "technicalities" in the way they figure jobs (as everyone does) And the 10,800 people who lost their jobs in April are generously called "additional people who entered the labor force to take advantage of opportunity".

I hope Wisconsin gets job growth. I hope everyone gets job growth, and quickly! You guys now have multiple millions over the budget to pay back to pay for your train upkeep. Yikes! Big spending by your Governor, to borrow millions and millions you don't have.


http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsrel...pril_state.pdf

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

Well, the previous legislature, and the legislatures of multiple other states, reviewed the same data and saw that they would be getting upgrades to their current train system, and an additional expanded system, interconnecting their points of business with other points of business, and were very excited as they all judged it profitable for decades down the road.

Your previous legislature wanted it. Walker didn't. Gave it up.

But then, strangely, Walker immediately tried to get those funds back.

So are you angry or disappointed at Walker seeking the very federal funds he turned down, and promised not to take, or not?

No one claimed it to be profitable. And if you think that the high speed rail from Madison to Milwaukee was profitable in any way there is no arguing with you. Even the democrats admitted that it would not sustain itself nor would it create any additional new business

I have no problem asking for $ that was supposed to go to an unecessary project to help do necessary repairs or upgrades to existing projects. The cost of maintaining existing projects is a lot less than the cost of a new project. You also fail to mention that governor doyle already gave the contract to a Spanish company and didn't even give a WI based company the right to bid the contract.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

No one claimed it to be profitable.

Well, actually, yes, they did. After it was built, and run, the states get to keep all the profit. Kind of one of the points of, you know, doing it

And if you think that the high speed rail from Madison to Milwaukee was profitable in any way there is no arguing with you. Even the democrats admitted that it would not sustain itself nor would it create any additional new business

Then it's a brilliant decision that you guys turned down the money! What do you think about Walker trying to get the money back?

Here's the national map of the rail corridors being built. They haven't erased Wisconsin yet. Poor Minnesota, they're screwed and left hanging after you guys pulled out.

I, on the other hand, am looking forward to being able to hop the train in Louisville and go to and from Chicago. Right now, it's just an hour plane ride on the commuter that comes and goes daily, but there's parking, car rental, getting in and out of O'Hare, etc.

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

Well, actually, yes, they did. After it was built, and run, the states get to keep all the profit. Kind of one of the points of, you know, doing it



Then it's a brilliant decision that you guys turned down the money! What do you think about Walker trying to get the money back?

Please show me where anyone claimed that highspeed rail in WI was profitable or even that it would be self sustainable