共和党加州州长候选人史蒂夫·希尔顿周五在HBO节目《比尔·马赫实况》中，针对肯塔基州州长安迪·贝希尔认为民主党州长应领衔该党2028年总统竞选组合的论点发起挑战，他指向加州州长加文·纽森未完工的高铁项目，当时贝希尔正在吹嘘民主党州长的政绩。
Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton challenged Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's argument that a Democratic governor should lead the party's 2028 presidential ticket Friday on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," pointing to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's unfinished high-speed rail project as Beshear touted Democratic governors' accomplishments.
贝希尔在探讨潜在民主党总统竞选人时辩称，州长可以指向切实的政绩，以此区别于唐纳德·特朗普总统。
Beshear, discussing potential Democratic presidential contenders, argued that governors could point to tangible accomplishments that would distinguish them from President Donald Trump.
“民主党州长手里有‘实绩单’，”他说。“你可以看看，你们建成住房了吗？建成高铁了吗？”希尔顿反问。
"What Democratic governors have are receipts," he said. "You can look at, have you built the housing?" "Have you built the high-speed rail?" Hilton asked.
此番交锋发生在马赫提出纽森作为2028年潜在竞选人之后，尽管这位加州州长尚未正式宣布竞选总统。
The exchange came after Maher raised Newsom as a potential 2028 contender, although the California governor has not formally announced a presidential campaign.
马赫承认希尔顿的观点有理，暗示这位共和党候选人可以利用该项目麻烦不断的历史来攻击纽森。“你对此会大做文章的。不，你是对的，”马赫说。
Maher acknowledged Hilton's point, suggesting the Republican candidate could use the project's troubled history against Newsom.
希尔顿的竞选经理马特·西皮洛夫斯基在给福克斯新闻数字版的声明中，批评加州持续向该项目投入资金。
"You're going to have a field day with that. No, you're right," Maher said.
“如果安迪·贝希尔认为加州高铁值得吹嘘，他应该试着买张票看看。花费数十亿美元，落后数年进度，加州民众至今仍无法乘坐。加文·纽森的回答是继续往里倒钱。”西皮洛夫斯基还表示，希尔顿若当选州长，将在第一天终止该项目的州级资金支持。
Matt Ciepielowski, Hilton's campaign manager, criticized California's continued investment in the project in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“史蒂夫·希尔顿将在上任第一天终止州政府对该项目的资助，”他说。“加州民众自身账单都难以支付，不应再由他们为萨克拉门托的失败买单。” 加州州参议员托尼·斯特里克兰（共和党-亨廷顿海滩），参议院交通委员会副主席，也批评纽森对该项目的处理，指出项目顾问提交的由纳税人资助的差旅费用相关调查结果。
"If Andy Beshear thinks California’s high-speed rail is something to brag about, he should try buying a ticket. Billions spent, years behind schedule, and Californians still can’t ride it. Gavin Newsom’s answer is to keep pouring money into it." Ciepielowski also said Hilton would end state funding for the project if elected governor.
“当纽森2019年上任时，高铁项目就应该被取消资金，”他说。“相反，他却在一个永远无法按最初向加州民众承诺的方式建成的项目上加倍投入。在纽森的监管下，项目顾问滥用公共资金支付豪华差旅费的最新丑闻，再次打了正为汽油、食品和房租等基本开支发愁的加州家庭一个耳光。”
"Steve Hilton will end state funding on day one," he said. "Californians are struggling to pay their own bills. They shouldn’t have to keep paying for Sacramento’s failures, too." California state Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, also criticized Newsom's handling of the project, pointing to findings about taxpayer-funded travel expenses submitted by project consultants.
“这些是纳税人的钱，项目顾问却把它们当成私人提款机。这个项目将载入加州历史，成为最浪费的政府项目之一，”他接着说。
"The high-speed fail should have been defunded when Newsom took office in 2019," he said. "Instead, he doubled down on a project that will never be built as originally proposed to Californians. The latest scandal involving project consultants' misuse of public funds to pay for luxury travel under Newsom’s watch is yet another slap in the face to California families struggling to pay for essentials like gas, food, and rent." "These are taxpayer dollars, yet project consultants treat them like their personal ATM. This project will go down as one of the most wasteful government projects in California history," he continued.
自2008年选民批准近100亿美元债券以来，加州高铁系统经历了数年的延误和成本飙升。4月的一份估算显示，全线项目成本约为1260亿美元，而最初的估算为330亿美元。据该报告，截至当时尚未铺设任何高铁轨道。
California's high-speed rail system has faced years of delays and escalating costs since voters approved nearly $10 billion in bonds in 2008. An April estimate placed the cost of the full project at approximately $126 billion, compared with an original estimate of $33 billion. No high-speed track had been laid as of that report.
加州高铁局在其2026年商业计划中表示，完成初始的默塞德至贝克斯菲尔德段预计耗资357亿美元，目标于2033年开通客运服务。根据该局财务记录，截至2月已支出约157亿美元。
The California High-Speed Rail Authority said in its 2026 business plan that completing the initial Merced-to-Bakersfield segment would cost an estimated $35.7 billion, with passenger service targeted for 2033. According to the authority's financial records, approximately $15.7 billion had been spent through February.
在加州独立高铁监察长9月的调查后，该项目的财务监管也面临新的审视。调查人员认定，约8.1万美元顾问差旅费疑似违反州法规，另有54.3万美元疑似违反合同条款，两项认定有部分重叠。问题支出包括高档交通费用，以及去健身房、夜总会和密室逃脱的行程。
The project's financial oversight also came under renewed scrutiny following a September investigation by California's independent high-speed rail inspector general. Investigators identified approximately $81,000 in consultant travel expenses that appeared to violate state regulations and another $543,000 that appeared impermissible under contract terms, with some overlap between the findings. Questionable charges included premium transportation and trips to gyms, a nightclub and an escape room.
加州高铁局列出了纠正措施，包括加强监督、员工培训，以及追回被认定为不当的付款。
The California High-Speed Rail Authority outlined corrective actions, including additional oversight, employee training and efforts to recover payments determined to be improper.
尽管面临批评，加利福尼亚州高速铁路管理局坚持认为建设正在推进。在10月份的更新中，官员们报告称已在中央谷地完成了66座主要构筑物和近90英里（约145公里）的导轨，同时强调了该项目预期的交通、经济和就业效益。
Despite the criticism, the California High-Speed Rail Authority has maintained that construction is advancing. In an October update, officials reported completing 66 major structures and nearly 90 miles of guideway in the Central Valley, while emphasizing the project's expected transportation, economic and employment benefits.
福克斯新闻数字频道曾联系纽森和加利福尼亚州高速铁路管理局置评，但未立即收到回复。
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom and the California High-Speed Rail Authority for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.