Passenger Trains > Texas HSR gets grant from DOT

In addition to the $35 million for Tower 55 announced yesterday, Texas gets $15 million for Houston-Dallas/Ft. Worth HSR planning:

http://www.fra.dot.gov/roa/press_releases/fp_FRA%2020-11.shtml

Love how Senators Hutchinson and Cornyn are all too happy to praise the project, but neglect to say that they both voted against the funding bill.

Dave

All the R's did that with the stimulus programs, then tripped over their own feet getting to the ribbon cutting to say how great a project it was.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> All the R's did that with the stimulus programs,
> then tripped over their own feet getting to the
> ribbon cutting to say how great a project it was.

Hey, I can think of other politicians taking credit for something they did little to accomplish.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > All the R's did that with the stimulus
> programs,
> > then tripped over their own feet getting to the
> > ribbon cutting to say how great a project it
> was.
>
> Hey, I can think of other politicians taking
> credit for something they did little to
> accomplish.


Was it railroad related?

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Love how Senators Hutchinson and Cornyn are all
> too happy to praise the project, but neglect to
> say that they both voted against the funding bill.
>
>
> Dave

Below is the info on the bill that if I understand correctly provided for the Tiger II grants. Sinced it passed the Senate on a voice vote, we don't know how the Senators voted.

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The Library of Congress > THOMAS Home > Bills, Resolutions > Search ResultsBill Summary & Status
112th Congress (2011 - 2012)
H.R.1363
Major Congressional Actions

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H.R.1363
Latest Title: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 2011
Sponsor: Rep Rogers, Harold [KY-5] (introduced 4/4/2011) Cosponsors (None)
Related Bills: H.RES.206
Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 112-8 [GPO: Text, PDF]
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MAJOR ACTIONS:

4/4/2011 Introduced in House
4/7/2011 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 181 (Roll no. 247).
4/8/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
4/9/2011 Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 348 - 70 (Roll no. 253).
4/9/2011 Presented to President.
4/9/2011 Signed by President.
4/9/2011

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Below is the info on the bill that if I understand
> correctly provided for the Tiger II grants. Sinced
> it passed the Senate on a voice vote, we don't
> know how the Senators voted.
>
Bill S.1 of 2009 passed the Senate as a roll call vote on Feb 10, 2009. The only Republicans voting in the affirmative were Snowe, Collins and Specter. Sen. Gregg abstained; all other Republicans voted "no". The two Texas senators have been clear in their opposition to the ARRA, which provides the funding for TIGER II.

Dave

I'm thrilled to see that LaHood is working hard to get as much money as possible "Obligated".

This means the "cost-cutters", when they return, can't "rescind" or take it back; and likewise a weak-kneed Obama won't be able to give it to the Republicans as a "compromise" offering.

I'm not up on the actual figure, but there is probably still about 30% of rail money yet to be obligated. Please, Mr. LaHood, get this money obligated pronto!

Joe

There is no longer a need to worry about what the House can do to unobligated funds, at least as the Frelinghuysen amendment is concerned.

A provision in the Budget Control Act (the bill Congress passed to raise the debt ceiling) allows additional expenditures for flood relief, negating the rescissions enacted in the Energy & Water Appropriations Act (which contained the Frelinghuysen amendment).

I would not put it passed him to volunteer more money headed to NJ to help flood victims in the Catskills and ignore his own backyard, literally.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > All the R's did that with the stimulus
> programs,
> > then tripped over their own feet getting to the
> > ribbon cutting to say how great a project it
> was.
>
> Hey, I can think of other politicians taking
> credit for something they did little to
> accomplish.


Thing is this is done, and nothin' comes of it! What else is new!

floridajoe2001 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm thrilled to see that LaHood is working hard to
> get as much money as possible "Obligated".

In the case of HSR in Texas - not the ACTUAL work to
be done at Tower 55, but the "study", obligated funds
are likely to do nothing more then to offer reference
to an old study sometime in the future at which point
the study itself will be outdated.

Sounds like a complete waste in an environment we are
in today. The state is in debt, huge debt, the country
is in dept and there will likely be no funding what so
ever to act on the results of the 15 million dollar
study.

Outcome: Stimulus which will put consultants to work
in providing future outdated analysis.

This 15 million is the money that actually should go
towards disaster relief, such as rebuilding of the
railroads damaged by Irene.

/Mitch

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bill S.1 of 2009 passed the Senate as a roll call
> vote on Feb 10, 2009. The only Republicans voting
> in the affirmative were Snowe, Collins and
> Specter. Sen. Gregg abstained; all other
> Republicans voted "no". The two Texas senators
> have been clear in their opposition to the ARRA,
> which provides the funding for TIGER II.

Here is the web page for the Tiger grants:

http://www.dot.gov/tiger/index.html

What I referred to above provided for in the Continuing Resolution was the FY2011 TIGER, also known as “TIGER Discretionary Grants.”

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> (snip)
>
> I would not put it passed him to volunteer more
> money headed to NJ to help flood victims in the
> Catskills and ignore his own backyard, literally.

Mr Frelinghuysen has made it clear he will do all he can to assist his district in this terrible and unprecedented flooding situation.

(Fortunately, the worst damage is adjacent in Pascrell's district.)