California sues Trump administration over withholding high-speed rail funds
Source: Reuters
California on Tuesday sued the Trump administration in U.S. District Court after the U.S. Transportation Department confirmed it would withhold $929 million in high-speed rail funding awarded to the state in 2010.
The state later on Tuesday plans to seek a temporary restraining order request asking a judge to prevent the U.S. Transportation Department from repurposing the money for other transit projects, the governors office said.
The state argues that the withholding is aimed at punishing California for opposing President Donald Trumps proposed wall along the southern U.S. border. The suit also names Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)and FRA chief Ron Batory.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the project. In a speech last week, Trump called the project a disaster and totally out of control and recounted that he had said Elaine, its over for them to Chao about the California project.
The move marked the latest in an ongoing battle between the Trump administration and California over a series of issues including immigration, vehicle emissions standards and internet policy.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-rail-suit/california-sues-trump-administration-over-withholding-high-speed-rail-funds-idUSKCN1SR295
MAY 21, 2019 / 12:57 PM
hlthe2b
(101,538 posts)AllaN01Bear
(17,065 posts)LisaM
(27,748 posts)That is one corrupt woman.
bitterross
(4,066 posts)I think that needs to happen. Not trying to be sexist here.
LisaM
(27,748 posts)Actually, we should call Mitch, "Mitch Chao".
maxsolomon
(32,918 posts)Disaster
Totally out of control
It's over for them
He's petty, capricious, and vindictive. He'll lose, but 1st everyone gets to suffer.
bluestarone
(16,641 posts)Hope they win this!
lark
(22,941 posts)The only question here is will the Russian Repug SCOTUS stand by their man, fuck over the libs, and ignore the constitution?
Or will they be SCOTUS first and rule based on laws and principals?
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)The fascist pig is doing this strictly out of spite....a complete abuse of power.
Maxheader
(4,363 posts)Like the trade war? Like the mueller report? Like you and your son-in-laws past banking activities?
Cheetox knows out of control...
madville
(7,397 posts)California initially was awarded the funds to build X amount if miles of high speed rail. They have scaled it so far back now that if it ever gets built it will only be a 110-mile line between Fresno and Bakersfield. That's the whole project now. Now there probably is a petty reason they are doing it now but on the other side of it I ask why do you spend billions to literally build a high speed rail line to no where?
It actually caused quite a stir several months ago out here. California may actually have to return some of the money they have already received under the terms of the agreement.
Merlot
(9,693 posts)Which is one of the US's most heavily trafficked corridors. The builders of the high speed rail said to build it directly next to the I5 freeway because the route is already built but smaller cities and counties started piping up and demanding stops in their cities.
Had it been done as originally planned, probably would have been more cost effective, not to mention done by now. Instead, we get the train from nowhere to nowhere and back.
Europe and Japan get bullit trains, we get 1970's trains chugging along old routs. yay us.
Eugene
(61,563 posts)Source: Reuters
Trump administration holds off redirecting California's high-speed rail money
David Shepardson
3 MIN READ
(Reuters) - The Trump administration on Wednesday agreed not to immediately redirect nearly $1 billion it is withholding from Californias high-speed rail project, one of several disputes between Republican Trump and the Democratic-controlled state.
In exchange, the state dropped its plans to ask a court to at least temporarily halt any planned shift in funds, California Governor Gavin Newsoms office said.
On Tuesday, California sued in U.S. District Court in San Francisco to challenge the administrations decision to withhold $929 million awarded in 2010 for a bullet train project hobbled by extensive delays and rising costs. The administration had rejected the states administrative appeal.
The lawsuit argued that President Donald Trump has overt hostility to California and its opposition to his initiative, so far unrealized, to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Republican administration and Californias Democrats have also clashed over immigration and air quality standards.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) cannot re-obligate Californias funding to another state without first initiating a formal process of issuing a notice, according to a joint court filing from the state and U.S. Justice Department.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-rail/trump-administration-holds-off-redirecting-californias-high-speed-rail-money-idUSKCN1SS2OG