Joining their Wisconsin counterparts, the Minnesota chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations implored Governor-elect Scott Walker to reconsider his stance on the high-speed rail project.
The Minnesota AFL-CIO cited the Madison-Milwaukee rail line as an essential link to connect the Twin Cities to Chicago.
""The larger Midwest high speed rail initiative would put tens of thousands of more people back to work, and make the upper Midwest an even more lucrative place to do business,"" the AFL-CIO wrote in a letter to Walker. ""If Wisconsin says no to this section of the line, it is likely Minnesota will not see any rail dollars in the future.""
Although U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Walker the $810 million in rail funding Wisconsin received would go to another state if rejected, Walker has repeatedly said he would refuse to allow for the construction of the Madison-Milwaukee line.
""The federal government is going to invest this money in rail one way or another,"" said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson. ""Turning down this money means jobs for another region instead of the upper Midwest.""
LaHood told transportation officials in North Carolina Thursday that they ""all are going to be in the high-speed rail business,"" the Charlotte Observer reported.
Leaders from other states have also been lobbying for Wisconsin's rail money if Walker chooses to return it.
Both of California's U.S. senators wrote to LaHood Tuesday requesting consideration for the funding, and New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo appealed to LaHood weeks ago for the money.
