Governor Asking Lawmakers To Dump $9.95 Billion Bond Measure

Sacramento, CA — Governor Schwarzenegger is asking lawmakers to scrap a $9.95 billion high-speed rail bond measure to clear the way for his massive, $222 billion public works program.

The high-speed rail is currently on the November ballot, state Finance Director Mike Genest says the administration decided it couldn´t afford to start building the high-speed rail project and the governor´s plan.

Democratic supporters of high-speed rail say they´ll try to put some funding for the project in whatever public works bond measure emerges form the Legislature.

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata has a bond measure that includes a billion dollars that could be used to begin buying right-of-way for the so-called bullet trains.

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