Read this short but bizarre story of how our federal government decided to spend $20 billion on high speed rail boondoggles — from Chris Reed’s blog. I’ve seen more thought go into picking Lotto numbers.
Whose idea was it to push bullet trains? Rahm Emanuel’s doctor brother. I feel ill.
by Chris Reed
KEY EXCERPT:
In December [2008], the [Obama] economic team dutifully prepared a team of drab but high-bang-for-your-buck outlays to [Rahm] Emanuel. The list included … $20 billion to repair existing roads and bridges, $5 billion to repair public housing units and another $5 billion to upgrade sewage treatment facilities. …
Emanuel’s brother, Ezekiel, a doctor who was joining the administration as a health care adviser, happened to be staying with the future chief of staff when the list arrived via fax. “There’s nothing that really gets my heart racing,” the brother later complained.
“What would get your heart racing?” Rahm Emanuel asked glumly.
“I don’t know. How about high-speed rail — getting from New York to D.C. in 90 minutes?”
Within days, some $20 billion in high-speed rail investments had immaculately materialized on the list.