Gov. Charlie Crist and top lawmakers think they have a rock solid argument for pursuing the SunRail project: Failing to do so could mean Florida would lose out on billions in federal funding for high speed rail.

Setting aside a critical examination of that claim (a big state like Florida would probably fare well in the federal bidding without SunRail) there are fresh questions about how Washington is approaching the problem. The Obama administration is set to award $8 billion in stimulus funding for high speed rail, but some critics fear an intense lobbying effort will spread the money around haphazardly.

In a new report, the Center For Public Integrity takes a look at the issue and the potential problem, dubbing the stimulus initiative "Washington's newest gravy train." Check it out here. The report has numerous Florida ties including this tidbit: "Earlier in the summer Georgia’s American Maglev Technology, which has a major branch in Florida, signed a former congressional aide to Corrine Brown, a Florida Democrat and chairwoman of the House railroad subcommittee."