MA: Repeal of the T-G-I-T-Z-L Mideast High Speed Rail Act of 2013 Act (Debating)

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

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Sponsor: ZuWo

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I'd prefer if we at least held off on this until we have the re-analysis from the GM on our current budget situation.

[Gass3268]

[ZuWo]

First of all, I want to make clear that I am not suddenly opposed to the construction of new high speed railway lines. However, it has become evident that we are not going to receive federal funds for the "Mideast High Speed Rail Act". Without these funds, the project is way too expensive for the Mideast (it would take $20 billion dollars from this year's budget alone). If we're going to pass a new "Mideast High Speed Rail Act" we will definitely have to set our sights lower.

[ZuWo]

I'd prefer if we at least held off on this until we have the re-analysis from the GM on our current budget situation.

Frankly, I don't think a re-analysis of our budget situation will change much; the "Mideast High Speed Rail Act" is too heavy a burden for the Mideast to carry alone since it requires the region to allocate $20 billion dollars from this and next year's budget to the construction of new railway lines, which will in all likelihood lead to a deficit in the years 2013 and 2014.

Thus, I think it's more responsible to kill the bill now, pass our budget and see what we can do with our surplus at a later point.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I'd prefer if we at least held off on this until we have the re-analysis from the GM on our current budget situation.

Frankly, I don't think a re-analysis of our budget situation will change much; the "Mideast High Speed Rail Act" is too heavy a burden for the Mideast to carry alone since it requires the region to allocate $20 billion dollars from this and next year's budget to the construction of new railway lines, which will in all likelihood lead to a deficit in the years 2013 and 2014.

Thus, I think it's more responsible to kill the bill now, pass our budget and see what we can do with our surplus at a later point.

We can always repeal the HSRA in the actual budget.

[tmthforu94]

For the record, we used funds from the transportation section of the budget to pay for this.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

For the record, we used funds from the transportation section of the budget to pay for this.

That wasn't said in the bill.  And I remember talking before that this would use up most of our surplus.  Nobody said that this was to be taken from the transportation section back then.

I'm also not sure how we could take $20B from the transportation section, since the total transportation budget is only $23.25B:

Transportation ($23.25 billion)
$9.00 billion ..... Highways and highway safety (No Change)
$4.00 billion ...... Mass transit (No Change)
$0.25 billion ...... Railroads (No Change)
$2.05 billion ..... Air Transportation (No Change)
$1.05 billion ...... Water transportation (No Change)
$0.45 billion ...... Other transportation (No Change)
$6.45 billion ..... Non-Highway Roads (No Change)

Mass transit and Rail only accounts for $4.25.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

It was a nice idea, but it wasn't appropriate to spend this large amount of money on a non-critical project.  We already know that if we continue with this, there's no surplus and no room to spend on more basic transportation or anything else or provide any kind of tax relief and still have a balanced budget.  It's time to repeal.

[Njall]

This is disappointing...but if going forward with the high-speed rail bill means that no further funds would be available to help improve the mideastern standard of living in other respects.  That said, I would like to hold off on this until the budget re-analysis is complete, on the off-chance that something does change.  And even if it doesn't, we should keep the high-speed rail bill in the back of our minds for sometime in the future, if and when we have a larger surplus.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

This is disappointing...but if going forward with the high-speed rail bill means that no further funds would be available to help improve the mideastern standard of living in other respects.  That said, I would like to hold off on this until the budget re-analysis is complete, on the off-chance that something does change.  And even if it doesn't, we should keep the high-speed rail bill in the back of our minds for sometime in the future, if and when we have a larger surplus.

I agree.