The CSX/SunRail/High Speed Rail session is underway, and chaos seems to be reigning. The big news, as seen in this Ledger story, is that Rep. Baxter Troutman won't vote because of his interest in a business that stands to profit from the CSX deal. That business, Phoenix Industries, I probably don't need to tell you, is owned by his cousin, JD Alexander. Hilarity ensues. I really figured this thing was a done deal this time for any number of reasons, but I think it might be crumbling again. What a mess. Again.
Update: Sentinel says the budget language is much ado about nothing, quoting Alexander and others. We'll see. Wow. Intrigue and shenanigans everywhere in the CSX deal on Monday. First and foremost, Senate Democratic leaders finally woke up to realize that a $600 million subsidy for a major corporation at a time of school closings makes for a pretty potent issue with which to club certain Republicans controlling the state purse strings. Later language to move the deal forward magically appeared in the Senate budget, which is controlled by J.D. Alexander.
I saw a commercial for JD Alexander today. Care to watch it with me?
Take a look at the lead paragraph in the Orlando Sentinel's latest story on Polk County's favorite son, J. D. Alexander. Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, said Monday he's talked to Gov. Charlie Crist in recent weeks about keeping the majority of U.S. Sugar Corp.'s agricultural lands in the sugar-growing business after the state finalizes its $1.75 billion buy-out of the company. [...]
Bio: Billy Townsend was a longtime government, political and general assignment reporter in Polk County and the wider I-4 corridor. He wrote extensively about Polk's unique regional identity and the issues shaping it, including USF Polytechnic, the Heartland Parkway and the CSX rail deal. Billy recently left professional reporting to take a corporate writing job, but he keeps close tabs on news of all stripes (especially political news) and the changes in modern journalism. Billy's wife is Julie Townsend, executive director of the Downtown Lakeland Partnership.They live with their three children in the Lake Morton area. His work at Lakeland Local is his first as an amateur hyperlocal writer.