Florida To Fund Port Of Miami Dredging
MIAMI (CBS4) - Minutes after Florida Governor Rick Scott won the right to refuse federal money for a high-speed rail line, the governor announced the state would fully fund plans to dredging in the Port of Miami to allow larger ships to enter the port.
"Today, I directed the Florida Department of Transportation to amend their work plan to include $77 million so that Florida can take another large forward in international trade," Scott said in a statement. "This is the type of infrastructure project that will pay permanent, long-term dividends, and provide a solid return on investment for Florida's taxpayers."
Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado called the Governor's announcement, "the best news Miami and South Florida have received in years."
Governor Scott made the announcement with Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Republican Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart and scandal-plagued Congressman David Rivera.
According to Scott's office, the Port of Miami dredging project will result in 33,000 new jobs for South Florida in the coming years - both permanent import and export positions, and construction work for the project itself.
The purpose behind the dredging project is to make Miami a "first port of call" for ships that come through the Panama Canal, which will be expanded by 2014.
"It's just huge," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez. "It's 33,000 jobs for the state of Florida, but more important for South Florida, as soon as the project gets underway, you're going to see thousands of people being employed in good-paying jobs."
Scott was also joined by Colombian Ambassador Gabriel Silva. Congressional Republicans are pushing the federal government to approve free trade agreements with Colombia.
However, the Obama Administration has not moved on the free trade front due to problems the United States has encountered with other free trade agreements.
"This is a solid first step toward enhancing Florida's infrastructure and getting our state ready for a new generation of international trade with South America and beyond," Scott said.
Never one to miss an opportunity to take a shot at the Obama White House and the high-speed rail lines, Scott said, "we know best where our resources should be focused."
