Rail promoters hyping huge job promises

By at 3 December, 2009, 11:45 am

Anytime there’s a big project being considered in the state Legislature, one thing is as certain as taxes and death: Politicians will make hyperinflated, breathless claims about job creation. The special session on rail issues, which launched today, is no differnet. Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, is hawking some huge job figures to members of the Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council, the first to hear the bill. The legislation would create an Orlando commuter rail system – SunRail – and shore up financially struggling Tri-Rail in South Florida. Aubuchon said it would create 11,523 jobs in the Orlando area and 1,985 other jobs statewide. Fair enough, but here’s where it gets a little pie-in-the-sky: Supporters are promising 164,000 indirect jobs. 164,000? That’s almost equal to

the population of Fort Lauderdale. One point of comparison is the Scripps science institute in Palm Beach County. In 2003, the state spent $310 million to lure the biotech researcher – backed up by hundreds of millions more from the county. At the time, Gov. Jeb Bush’s folks dangled 50,000 jobs over 15 years as the reward. Well, it’s only been six years, but Scripps job creation has been miniscule compared to the 50,000 figure. Aubuchon, though, said every job that rail provides is important. “Each job is like a note in a song, and no matter how long the song goes on, it’s music to the ears of the myriad unemployed Floridians,” he said.

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Rail promoters hyping huge job promises

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