Governor Rejects Federal High Speed Rail Money | TheLedger.com

In a decision that could have far-reaching political and economic consequences, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday abruptly terminated the $2.4 billion high-speed train that would link Tampa with Orlando, vowing to send the money back to the federal government.

The decision, announced at a hastily called news conference, further solidified Scott's image as an aggressive cost-cutter fulfilling a vow to rein in government spending. It also reinforced his political alliance with the anti-tax tea party movement, which has strongly opposed high-speed rail projects pushed by President Barack Obama.

But critics, including both Republicans and Democrats, said the new governor was prematurely turning his back on an innovative mass-transit project that could produce an estimated 24,000 jobs and could help reshape the state's economy.