Lynx Blue Line [...]
edited by: Kay Day,
Florida Editor
By Aaron Deslatte and Josh Hafenbrack, Tallahassee Bureau
TALLAHASSEE – Embattled Florida Republican chairman Jim Greer is facing a coup from disgruntled party leaders enraged that he took sides in the state’s U.S. Senate primary and who are now accusing him of causing “irreparable harm” with the party check book.
In a [...]
By Dan Tracy and Aaron Deslatte, Orlando Sentinel
With an old steam engine and the planned site of a depot just yards away, Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill into law Wednesday that should lead to the construction and operation of SunRail, Central Florida’s first commuter train.
The downtown Orlando ceremony, repeated [...]
Gov. Charlie Crist put his signature on the SunRail bill as elected officials and community leaders applauded during a ceremony at Church Street Station in downtown Orlando, Wednesday. The signing of Florida Passenger Rail House Bill 1B sets into motion funding and infrastructure [...]
In her official capacity as Florida's chief financial officer, Alex Sink on Tuesday called on Gov. Charlie Crist to conduct an internal investigation of why a top DOT official used words like "French toast" and "pancakes" in the subject header of emails dealing with the SunRail legislation.
Crist promptly ordered his [...]
TALLAHASSEE – In a brief appearance without his transportation secretary, Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday signed the sweeping transportation package clearing the way for the $1.2 billion SunRail commuter train to get rolling through Orlando.
Crist called the bill passed by the Legislature last week a glimpse of ” Florida’s transportation [...]
Gov. Charlie Crist signed the special session bill on commuter rail this morning, but his Transportation Secretary was not present for the occasion.
The bill will jump-start the $1.2-billion SunRail project planned for Central Florida, create a new statewide rail authority and—supporters hope—will improve the state’s chances at winning… [...]
Gov. Charlie Crist will shuttle around the state today to celebrate the signing of a sweeping measure to create a statewide rail system.
Crist will no doubt repeatedly praise the billions that will be spent on rail projects as a boon to the economy.
But it turns out trying to figure out [...]
Gov. Charlie Crist has responded—quickly—to Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s request for an investigation of a possible effort by the Department of Transportation to conceal email correspondence relating to SunRail. (See original post about this here.) Here’s Crist’s brief response:
“I agree with… [...]
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink just released the following letter in which she is urging Gov. Charlie Crist to investigate “Wafflegate,” as the brewing scandal over SunRail emails has recently been dubbed in the press.
A firestorm of criticism has erupted in recent days since the Palm Beach Post… [...]
TALLAHASSEE — Florida CFO Alex Sink wants Gov. Charlie Crist to order an inspector general inquiry into the Department of Transportation e-mails that SunRail critics are calling “Waffle-gate.”
We wrote a story about it here.
“If anyone deliberately attempted to subvert our state’s sunshine requirements, they should be held accountable,” Sink wrote. “An [...]
Much is being made of which Republican senatorial candidate has flip flopped more--Governor Crist, who was for the stimulus, then against it for unemployment compensation, then for it for SunRail; or former Speaker Rubio who was for cap and trade, then against it. They have both learned, painfully, that it [...]
TALLAHASSEE – SunRail critics have slapped it with the incriminating nickname “Wafflegate.”
To Florida Department of Transportation administrators, it was just a cute attempt to keep things light in the frantic days before a special legislative session — but one that has admittedly blown up in their faces.
State Sen. Paula Dockery, [...]
By Dan Tracy and Mark Matthews, Orlando Sentinel
SunRail was banished to a side track in May when the state Senate voted down the Central Florida commuter train.
Everything was shuttered. No contracts were signed, nor were land deals negotiated or equipment purchased.
Now, it’s full steam ahead, thanks to lawmakers’ approval last [...]
Gov. Charlie Crist sent U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood a letter formally requesting federal stimulus bucks for a bullet train from Orlando to Tampa.
In the letter, Crist touts the overwhelming passage of the SunRail/TriRail/High speed rail bill on Tuesday.
"The transportation bill passed this week resoundingly demonstrates Florida’s support for passenger rail" [...]
Gov. Charlie Crist sent U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood a letter formally requesting federal stimulus bucks for a bullet train from Orlando to Tampa.
In the letter, Crist touts the overwhelming passage of the SunRail/TriRail/High speed rail bill on Tuesday.
"The transportation bill passed this week resoundingly demonstrates Florida’s support for passenger [...]
Fred O'Neal, who's chairman of the newly recognized Tea Party when he's not consultant Doug Guetzloe's lawyer, says his embryonic group will target legislators who voted for the rail package this week that included authorization for the $1.2-billion SunRail commuter train in Central Florida.
"We are currently evaluating each individual race [...]
By Mike Thomas, Sentinel Columnist
Thank goodness the anti-spending, anti-government conservatives in Tallahassee overcame liberal opposition so we can build our socialist commuter train that will run on $100 stimulus bills shoveled into the firebox by AFL-CIO engineers.
The sales pitch is that this may get us billions in Obama bucks to [...]
According to Sen. Bill Nelson, the federal government has agreed to give SunRail $40 million in funding. The House and Senate still has to finalize the deal. The White House supports the SunRail project. [...] The state Senate has passed the rail bill 27-10. It now heads to Gov. Charlie Crist for his signature.
In a statement, Crist said, “I am grateful today that 111 members of the Florida Legislature have taken a brave and historic step to transform Florida’s future – not only as… [...]
