CAPITOL CONNECTION: Railroading high-speed rail

A consistent question from area citizens and taxpayers over the past number of months has been, “Joe, what can be done to stop Gov. Jim Doyle’s plan to spend almost $1 billion on a high-speed rail system between Milwaukee and Madison?” Without a doubt, average Wisconsinites seriously question the feasibility of this rail plan and strongly oppose this massive expenditure at this time.

As you may recall, last year, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT), under the direction of Gov. Doyle, applied for a federal “economic stimulus” grant to establish passenger rail service between Milwaukee and Madison. In January 2010, the federal government awarded grants totaling about $820 million for the project to the state DOT. The Legislature’s Democratic-controlled budget committee approved this transaction and committed the state of Wisconsin to the project.

I have opposed this expenditure and believe the project must be stopped. Unfortunately, as I and other legislators are trying to put the brakes on this rail line, the leaders of our government, at both the state and federal level, are pushing this project forward regardless of overwhelming opposition from the people who will have to pay the bill.

In late July, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Ray LaHood, visited Watertown to deliver the second federal installment of stimulus funds that will go toward building a high-speed rail line between Milwaukee and Madison. According to Gov. Doyle and Secretary LaHood, this payment makes this project essentially unstoppable.

In his comments that day, Secretary LaHood said, “High-speed rail is coming to Wisconsin – there’s no stopping it.”

The implications of this comment and attitude are chilling. Wisconsin citizens overwhelmingly oppose this expenditure, yet the federal government, with help from Gov. Doyle, has decided to force this down our throats regardless of our opinion – and the ability of state taxpayers to afford yet another burdensome and permanent cost. Isn’t our government supposed to work for and represent the will of its citizenry?

My opposition to this rail project is not only due to the massive initial cost, but also because of the enormous ongoing state taxpayer subsidies it will require going forward – a fact that Gov. Doyle and Secretary LaHood have been hesitant to discuss openly. You see, the state DOT has admitted that the new rail line will not be self-sustaining. Rather, the system will require massive and constant taxpayer subsidies in order to cover operating expenses and maintenance of rail infrastructure, train stations and the trains themselves.

If re-elected, I will continue my effort to stop this project. The money shouldn’t be borrowed or, if anything, the funding should be redirected to other, higher priority programs. I will take this action confident that I am reflecting the will of the citizens and taxpayers I work for and represent.

As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you. Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling (920) 457-7367 or visiting my online office at www.leibham.com.

It is an honor representing the residents of the 9th District in the state Senate!