Steven Greenhut on the Shaky Case for High-Speed Rail
A superior court's recent smack-down of California's high-speed-rail project raises provocative questions not only about the future of the $68-billion-plus train, but about the integrity of the initiative process, reports Steve Greenhut. Do the guarantees in ballot initiatives mean anything after voters have approved them? Or do initiatives offer "carte blanche," whereby officials can take the concept approved at the ballot box and do whatever they choose with it? The judge said the rail authority "abused its discretion," but Gov. Jerry Brown declared that it was full speed ahead, despite the setback.