(The following appeared at www.cnn.com on March 4, 2011.)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court ruled Friday that Gov. Rick Scott can reject $2.4 billion in federal money that would have funded a proposed high-speed rail system in the state.
The governor had made clear that he would reject the money, but two state senators — a Democrat and Republican — took him to court over that decision. They argued that he would overstep his executive authority and violate Florida’s constitution if he did not accept the money, but the state’s high court disagreed.
The court decision clears the way for Scott’s administration to focus on projects other than high-speed rail, the governor’s spokesman, Brian Burgess said.
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