Spanish Train to Nowhere

I had made a bloggers promise (if there is such a thing) that I would avoid politics in my blogs. I am breaking that promise in today's blog. I am attaching an email that was written by the president of Anderson-Ashton to his respective representatives in Madison (both Republicans) regarding the fiasco that is the "Spanish Train to Nowhere." If the "silent majority" ever needed a voice, I think they have just found it in Dave Miller. I believe that anyone who has followed the developments of our Governor's obsession with trains will relate to the frustration Dave expresses in his letter. Before I say much more I suggest you read what David had to say.

Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:50 PM
To: Rep.Nass
Cc: Sen.Kedzie
Subject: Talgo and the High Speed Train

Steve and Neal,

Are all of the Republicans tied up and muzzled? Why aren't you screaming bloody murder about this high speed train between Milwaukee and Madison? Not only has the planning been done, and the trains purchased via a no bid contract to Talgo of Spain, but the legislature has accepted the $893 million from the Feds for the construction of this project! All of this has happened without a vote or serious input from the public.
I presume that the next step will be to extend the tracks to Minneapolis. Who will pay for that and more importantly, WHO is going to ride this train? The citizens of Wisconsin are going to be saddled with the operating costs of this boondoggle because it will NEVER be able to sustain itself as the limited number of riders will not support it.
Stop acting like you’re impotent and start doing the job you were sent to do at Madison. Someone needs the guts to stand up and introduce a bill to immediately return those funds to Washington and derail this unneeded, misguided, and irresponsible misuse of taxpayer dollars.
Stop the train to nowhere!

David C. Miller
W345 S3681 Moraine Hills Dr.
Dousman, Wi. 53118
262-965-3539

Within five minutes of sending this email, Dave received a response from the office of State Senator Neal Kedzie; it reads as follows:

David,

Thank you for contacting the office of Senator Neal Kedzie regarding the high speed rail. Senator Kedzie has been very outspoken in this regard, and issued a news column a couple of weeks ago, which echoes many of the comments you’ve made. For your review, a link to that column is below:

Click Here to View

In regards to introducing a bill to stop it, at this point in time, that effort would go nowhere, since Democrats control both Houses of the Legislature and all committees which deal with such legislation are under their control. The Joint Finance Committee has already given its approval (even with all Republican members voting in opposition), thus it is highly unlikely – at least at this point – than any legislative action by Republicans would succeed. We simply do not have the numbers to stop them from advancing their agenda in this regard, but certainly hope the political landscape changes sooner rather than later.

Again, thank you for writing on this matter of mutual concern.

Dan Johnson
Chief of Staff
State Senator Neal Kedzie
11th Senate District

Now I find this letter both encouraging and frustrating at the same time. While it is encouraging to us that the State Senate Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee all voted against the Bill, the frustrating part is the "white flag" they seem to be waving on the basis that the Dem's out-number them and therefore their efforts are fruitless.
This defeatist attitude on behalf of Wisconsin's Republicans goes to the heart of Dave's frustration. If these republicans truly feel this is a bad deal for the State, and if they agree that these "Spanish Trains" have cost jobs at say "Super Steel Products", and if the rumors are true that Talgo plans on bringing their own people to the City owned Tower Automotive Site, then draft an opposition Bill with your names on it and force those in opposition to respond.

If you agree with Dave, cut and paste his email and the response from Kedzie's office and send it to your Republican Representative and perhaps suggest that an "opposition bill" might first show your constituents that you have some ba....s, but also that it would look pretty good in a campaign ad come November.