CSX UPDATE! VOTE COULD BE TODAY!

Today could be the day. Please email and/or call all of these legislators today and express your concerns about the liability clause. Alex Sink, Florida's CFO has written a letter to both the Senate President and the House Speaker condemning the transfer of liability from CSX to Florida taxpayers.

Her letter:
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/04/sink-csx-commut.html

There is a better way to get commuter rail to Central Florida. This deal is NOT the only way to do it. And with a more time, Central Florida could realize a plan that benefits Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando and the cities in between without the burden of the liability or the destruction of smaller cities.

Federal dollars ARE NOT waiting for Florida to take action. Corrine Brown herself spoke before a senate committee last week in favor of commuter rail, but admitted that federal dollars are not allocated for the project this year. There is time. The feds want us to get it RIGHT, not RIGHT AWAY. Asking for 1 year to further examine the deal and be sure that we move forward in a way that is in the best interest of all Floridians is NOT too much to ask. It is responsible government.

Ask them to vote AGAINST transferring CSX 's liability to us.

Senate President Ken Pruitt (R-Port St. Lucie) Ph. 850-487-5088
Pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Daniel Webster (R-Winter Garden) – Senate Majority Leader
Ph. 850-487-5047
Webster.Daniel.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Steven Geller (D-Hallandale Beach) – Senate Minority Leader
Ph. 850-487-5097
Geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Jeff Atwater (R-North Palm Beach) – Senate President-elect
Ph. 850-487-5100
Atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee) – Senate Minority Leader-elect
Ph. 850-487-5004
Lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov

Polk Delegation:

Senator JD Alexander
Ph. 850-487-5044
alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Paula Dockery
Ph. 850-487-5040
dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Ronda Storms
Ph. 850-487-5072
storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov

Representative Frank Attkisson
Ph. 850-488-8992
frank.attkisson@myfloridahouse.gov

Representative Marty Bowen
Ph. 850-488-2721
marty.bowen@myfloridahouse.gov

Representative Seth McKeel
Ph. 850-488-9890
seth.mckeel@myfloridahouse.gov

Representative Dennis Ross
Ph. 850-488-2270
dennis.ross@myfloridahouse.gov

Representative Baxter Troutman
Ph. 850-488-9465
baxter.troutman@myfloridahouse.gov

OK, so we are NEW at this whole blog thing...so new that I forgot my password and had to do the entire "reset your password" process. This time I wrote it down. We hope folks will blog about their experiences downtown. The only way to get better is to hear from people. As for CSX ( I hear a train horn as I type), it is up to the legislature now. We have to keep the faith that enough senators will listen to Alex Sink and send FDOT back to the drawing board on this one. What are your thoughts??

As for the walking tour last week, it was great! Folks are really enjoying it and we had some great ideas from attendees to make it even better. We have not set a date for the next one, but it looks like the fall. Keep an eye on the website for details.

The newsletter was also a big hit. You can read it online or pick one up downtown.

Thanks Kevin Bouffard for the Blog plug in today's Ledger Insider. I needed a kick in the pants to blog again. (And figure out my password). :)