Obama criticizes Gov. Rick Scott for rejecting money

MIAMI - President Barack Obama says Florida Gov. Rick Scott was wrong to reject $2.4 billion in federal money to build a high-speed rail line from Orlando to Tampa.

During an interview Friday with WSVN in Miami, Obama said, ""Frankly, I think the governor was wrong on this. And that's not just my opinion. That's the opinion of folks in Tampa and Orlando, including a lot of Republicans up there."

Scott has said he didn't want to obligate the state to pay for potentially expensive operating costs.

A Florida Department of Transportation study shows the line could have had an operating surplus in 2015, its first year of operation.

Other states, like New York and California, have already expressed interest in taking the money for their own high-speed rail projects.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/18/2122618/obama-criticizes-fla-governor.html#ixzz1H3QQQalD