The Florida Supreme Court on March 4 unanimously rejected a lawsuit by Florida senators aimed at forcing Gov. Rick Scott (R) to accept federal funding for a proposed $2.7-billion high-speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa, effectively ending a last-ditch effort to save the project. The lawsuit, filed by Sen. Thad Altman (R) of Melbourne and Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D) of Tampa, had asserted that Scott lacked the authority to override the actions of a previous legislature, which had approved the project.
Justices were not convinced of the senators’ argument. In a brief, one-page ruling, the court stated: “The petitioners have not clearly demonstrated entitlement to … relief. Accordingly, the emergency petition is hereby denied.”