Calif. Republicans ask appropriators to keep high-speed rail funding out of bill

California Republicans on Friday asked House appropriators to include provisions in the new spending bill that prohibit funds for high-speed rail in their state.

In a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and ranking Democrat Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), thirteen Republicans said the proposition approved by voters in 2008 was no longer viable. 

{mosads}”Originally approved in 2008 by voters of California, the project has been modified significantly so that it no longer meets the demands originally laid out by voters. Indeed, a majority of California voters no longer support the project as they have watched the cost balloon from $33 billion to over $100 billion before the scope has trimmed to bring the current figure to $68 billion,” the lawmakers, led by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), wrote.

Earlier this year, the House adopted, 227-186, an amendment to the 2015 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill to prohibit funding for California high-speed rail.

Rogers said Thursday that the appropriations package would likely be released on Monday. Current funding expires on Dec. 11. 

The measure is expected to keep all government agencies open through September 2015, except for the Department of Homeland Security. Agencies dealing with immigration policy would only be funded through late winter, likely through February.