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Former Gov. Jeb Bush blasted the Tribune’s coverage of the state’s multimillion-dollar deal with CSX on Friday, after speaking on the qualities of leadership at Southeastern University in Lakeland.
The state plans to spend $491 million to buy CSX tracks in Orlando for commuter rail and help the company expand its freight operations into a new hub in Polk County.
The deal was a priority to Bush in his second term as governor, which ended in 2006, but it’s coming under criticism from several state lawmakers who say it was forged largely in secret and costs too much money. Also, they say it will greatly increase truck and train traffic through Polk County.
“There was no secret deal ... I resent the implication,” Bush said angrily. “I believe a significant number of people in this community support the thousands of jobs it will bring.”
The proposed hub, however, will employ at most 200. A second phase of warehouses and distribution centers could employee as many as 1,800, CSX has said.
Bush also said the CSX deal was a strategy to solve “a significant traffic problem in an important area of the state.”
Asked what he thought would happen to the deal in this legislative session, Bush walked away and said, “I don’t care.”
Related Story: ‘Independent Analysis’ Of CSX Rail Deal Questioned
While I’m glad Jeb is gone, it’s got nothing to do with commuter rail other than its a helluva great idea. HW60 is overloaded, I-4 is cripped with traffic. Commuter rail is a brilliant idea and safer.
I just wish the politicians would play less games and do more work. Fix insurance, fix property taxes, and fix transportation.
I’ve been reading about this deal for 3 years. you had to be under a political rock to call this secret. I for one love any deal like this to get people and ESPECIALLY trucks off I-4!!!
Thank you TBO and the Trib for exposing yet another corrupt politician. Thank goodness Bush is gone and we will never have to deal with him again.
Watch for a plum board appt. for Jeb in six months or so! First Tenet Healthcare, then Lehman, a blatant quid-pro-quo for having invested, then lost Million$ of FL counties $$ in high risk mortgage bundles—causing a disastrous run on the fund. No problem—Jeb’s now on the payroll. Lots of perks for Jebthro, disaster for Florida people’s public funds! Angry, Jeb, is what WE are with your sneaky, underhanded deals that this state can ill afford to pay for with the tanked economy YOU created with your dipwad non-leadership! Please, pack and go to Paraguay—permanently! We are sick to death of you! And since when is Florida in the railroad business?? Thank you Trib for exposing Flim-Flam Jeb!
Well the Jeb does it again,bob and weave,then run.
Glad I have never voted for a Bush.
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Posted by Cythia Reyes, Tampa on 03/13 at 12:39 PM
Unlike the Tallahassee politicians, we work for a living and don’t want to spend half the day sitting in traffic or dodging 100,000 lb semi tucks. We need relief with affordable mass transit. Fix it!