The LA Times remains on the case regarding the high-cost boondoggle that continues to trudge along in the Central Valley. In a piece titled Newsom and California lawmakers hit an impasse on financing bullet train the Times notes
A battle to secure an additional $4.2 billion for the California bullet train has hit an impasse, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders failing to reach a compromise Friday.
Unless the two sides resume talks soon, any additional money for the bullet train will have to be negotiated in 2022, forcing the rail project to dip further into the roughly $2-billion pot it has in hand….a large coalition in the Assembly wants some of the money diverted to high-speed rail segments in Southern California and the Bay Area.
The negotiations were led by Assembly Transportation Chair Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), who has been pressing the bullet train project to improve its performance after a history of cost increases and schedule delays. Friedman has contended for months that there was no reason to give the rail authority the full $4.2-billion appropriation when it wasn’t needed in immediate years.
The legislative dispute could affect the willingness of Congress to provide federal funding for the bullet train out of a $3.5-trillion budget resolution.
One can only hope. We are at Recall minus nine days. I believe virtually anyone who would win on Question 2 would immediately put a bullet in the bullet train, including MeetKevin. I know I would as I noted here. It would be Day 1.
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