No-bid train deal is subject of bill
MADISON — A state senator says he wants to change a law that allowed Gov. Jim Doyle’s administration to enter into a $47 million, no-bid contract with a Spanish company for passenger trains.
Sen. Rob Cowles, a Republican from Green Bay, said he will introduce a bill to repeal a 1997 state law that exempts passenger rail contracts from competitive bidding requirements.
Doyle’s administration used that law to buy two passenger trains from the Spanish firm Talgo without seeking other bids. Since then, other companies have said they would have liked a chance to bid on the contract.
The administration has defended the deal, saying Talgo was the only company out of seven contacted to respond to a state request for information.
Aug 26, 2009 at 6:16 a.m.
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sarahB1; your right (sorry) but I get a little upset at the waste of 47 mil of our tax money - arent you all getting a little tired of the finger pointing & waste. The whole thing sounds like my kids - "he did it first" - "she started it" - doesnt matter, it HAS to stop, we're in deep trouble as a whole & need this to waste & spending to stop.
Aug 25, 2009 at 10:19 p.m.
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SaraB1; and as my post says nothing to the fact of a loophole or broke any laws. I just simply think this is wrong - no matter who wrote the law. - related example: G.Bush crafted NAFTA - Willy Clinton signed it - I DONT AGREE WITH IT no matter who signed it!
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werpknarly; really, does that mean you know the entire story? cuz I would like to hear it. There's a BIG difference between a proposal & "information on their company" - as you called it. Was an actual bid package with specifications sent out? I'm sure you dont know - you just want to defend this decision based on POLITICS! people really need to start thinking for themselves not what some political machine tells them to think.
Aug 25, 2009 at 6 p.m.
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Crying Fowl Here!
MIS-LEADING STORY: they left out the part where several companies were invited to give the gov. office information on thier product, only one showed up. Its very easy to cry foul after the fact
AND
it seems like when a republican is in office, 1997, this is a good law. when a democrat is in office, its bad... hummmm....
Aug 25, 2009 at 5:18 p.m.
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I'd say it sounds like a good idea, but since when has Doyle ever abided by the laws we do have on the books. Doesn't the state's constitution guarantee the people the right to bear arms?, doesn't it define marriage as being between a man and woman? Didn't the constitution forbid expanded gaming by tribal casinos when Doyle cut his own sweetheart deal with them? What would make me think that the next spend first democrat that gets voted in to run the state economy into the ground would heed this law any more than Diamond Jim would?
Aug 25, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
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They are trying to change the law because there was no law preventing Doyle from making the deal. Even if they change it the law will not be retroactive and any attempt to do so would run the risk of making it a bill of attainder (legislation to punish a particular party). The Talgos are nice trains and it would be great to have Janesville build them, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. It isn't comparable to the GM payroll by any means. It would be a plum but losing it to Milwaukee or Waukesha or wherever would also not be a catastrophe.
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The law was, of course, changed because Gov. Tommy Thompson was on the board of Amtrak and was promising his own brand of pork. Funny how times change.
Aug 25, 2009 at 4:23 p.m.
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here is all you wanted to know about talgo trains, Iam done....
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/rail/amtrakcasca...
Aug 25, 2009 at 4:18 p.m.
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Has anyone else heard Mike Sheridan is thinking about running for govenor?
Aug 25, 2009 at 4:15 p.m.
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here is a link for more info on this train, there are other web sites also.
http://www.amtrakcascades.com/About.htm
Aug 25, 2009 at 4:13 p.m.
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Legal or not, for Doyle to spend $47 MILLION on this pipe dream is a TRAVESTY and evidence of his being unfit to govern this state. He obviously has lost his grip on reality.
Aug 25, 2009 at 3:51 p.m.
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I don't think Janesville will get the train deal. Is that why I've heard Mike Sheridan is going to run for govenor so he can get out of town before $!^ hits the fan?
Aug 25, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.
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Talgo trains, two weeks ago my wife and I rode this train (operated by Amtrac) from Portland Or to Seattle Wa, a very nice train, leather seats, dinning car,had a business class, movies on board. Low slung so it could take curves faster, there were 14 cars on this train and completly sold out. They have dedicated tracks, So it took 3 hours and 45 minm (I havent checked the distance). they told me that you cannot uncouple the cars if that presented a problem I dont know. I hate to post here anymore because of the negative responses, that is just my observation of the train.
Aug 25, 2009 at 3:27 p.m.
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sarahB1; so what your saying is throw out ethics, standards & potential fraud for a few jobs. How noble of you. Taking bets on that Doyle's "new job" will be something to do with trains - maybe CEO of US operations for this Spanish Co. or lobbyist for Mass Transit.
Aug 25, 2009 at 2:51 p.m.
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I don't trust any of them Dems or Republicans
as for the train deal .......I SMELL A RAT
Aug 25, 2009 at 2:41 p.m.
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Actually OkieFed, the real question is under which governor's watch did that law pass? (Hint: it's not Doyle or even a Democrat.)
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