Rubio says legislators should be wary of rail deal but Crist camp says "talk is easy"

After being asked about it former House Speaker Marco Rubio has weighed in on the ongoing special session.

Rubio, who during his campaign for the U.S. Senate has been highly critical of the use of the federal stimulus package to create jobs , said that legislators should be "wary" of promises that the rail deal will create lots of new jobs. The legislation that was debated in the Florida House today is being pushed in part by the promise of billions in federal aid. Gov. Charlie Crist, who supports the package that would help commuter rail in Central Florida as well as assist Tri-Rail, said on Thursday that he didn't care if the money was coming from the stimulus. Crist added that voting against the rail legislation would be "indefensible" because it would generate needed jobs for Florida.

In a statement from his campaign today Rubio said: "We should be wary of all the promises floating around Tallahassee about how much this latest round of government spending will create lasting jobs and prosperity. Rail projects have merit as transportation and infrastructure policy. But selling SunRail as a job issue, as Charlie Crist, has chosen to do, is a stretch. If the nearly $800 billion Obama-Crist stimulus plan didn't create the jobs they promised, how can we believe a new train system is going to live up to its promises?

"In addition, I disagree with Governor Crist's claim that he doesn't care where the money come from to pay for this project. I care a lot, because it's coming from borrowed and printed money that is ultimately coming from my children and their generation."

Rubio - by the way - voted in 2008 for HB 1399 which included provisions for SunRail.

UPDATE - Crist campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul had this to say about Rubio: "Talk is easy, Governor Crist and the Florida Legislature are focused on actually creating much needed jobs in central Florida.  Despite Marco Rubio at one time voting in favor of and supporting the SunRail project for Central Florida, Governor Crist is pleased to be working with Rubio's former House and Senate colleagues in bringing this important project to fruition."

Comments

[hattori hanzo]

The Guv can take credit for "creating jobs" if SunRail passes, without having to hang around to see if the claim actually turns out to be true. Meantime, he's cashing "SunRail" checks...

Just another Crist beau geste.