Today on a party line vote the Assembly Democrats in the Legislature approved $8 billion for high speed rail that transfers control of the funding and local transportation projects to the High Speed Rail Authority until 2018. The Legislature will get reports.

"How lucky are the people of California? The 'Authority' with a new Chairman chosen from the Parsons Brinckerhoff contractor pool is now in charge of your tax dollars and a multibillion dollar project. No ridership study, no cost analysis, no accurate reporting, no oversight and an open check book for 5 years. Let's hope for a bit of Leadership in the Senate tomorrow, where many of the Democrats are at least reading the legislation and asking tough questions," Assemblymember Harkey said.

Senate Bill 1029 passed in the State Assembly today in spite of numerous warnings from the Legislative Analyst, State Auditor, community leaders and voters in Northern, Central and Southern California that would pare back or repeal funding for the project. The current 4th revised plan was reviewed by Legislative Counsel who opined on June 8, 2012 that while the $6 billion designated for 130 miles of track in the Central Valley might qualify under the voter approved state bond criteria, funding for the book-ends in San Francisco-San Jose and LA-Anaheim corridors was not as likely.

To read the Legislative Counsel opinion click here: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/73/pdf/HighSpeedRailNumber1211030.pdf  

To read Assemblymember Harkey's analysis of the opinion click here: http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/07/gathering-votes-for-high-speed-rail-you-cant-always-get-what-you-want/