Posted on 08/02/2008 9:09:31 AM PDT by AuntB
WASHINGTON – Opponents of a pilot project that allows Mexican trucks to travel throughout the United States took another step toward ending the program yesterday, when a House committee approved a bill to bar its continuation next year.
The bill could get a vote by the full House when lawmakers return from their summer break in September.
“We believe it's time to end the program,” said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., the chief sponsor of the bill.
DeFazio blasted the Bush administration for ignoring a law passed by Congress last year to end the pilot program. He said lax safety standards in Mexico make truck drivers from that nation a danger to the American public – an allegation that U.S. transportation officials dispute.
DeFazio's legislation would prevent the one-year pilot program from being extended past its scheduled end on Sept. 6. The bill also would require an assessment of the program from the U.S. Department of Transportation and an independent review panel created by the agency.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters has not said whether she plans to continue the program after Sept. 6, but opponents suspect an extension is in the works.
The program allows U.S. carriers to haul cargo into Mexico for the first time. Twenty-six Mexican carriers and 10 from the United States are enrolled.
Supporters and opponents are awaiting a federal court decision in a lawsuit alleging that the program is illegal.
Despite administration backing for the program, many Republicans in Congress have joined Democrats in opposing it over safety concerns and a fear that Mexican truck drivers will take U.S. jobs.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bill on a voice vote with no opposition. Rep. John Mica of Florida, ranking Republican on the committee; Rep. John Duncan Jr., R-Tenn.; and committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., joined DeFazio in sponsoring the bill.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which oversees the program, said in a statement that it was disappointed by the vote. The agency said the program “fulfills our obligations under NAFTA and benefits U.S. consumers and truck drivers while operating in a safe manner.”
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, an opponent of the pilot project, applauded the vote.
“There is little doubt the administration will try to extend the program beyond its anniversary,” said Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the group. “It's vital that this bill be passed.”
Is there any actual statistics on accidents caused by these trucks?
Mary needs to leave public service.
Still in the investigate, study, learn, phase I see.
I am pretty well studied up on the subject at hand.
Then why are you asking, and not stating?
“Is there any actual statistics on accidents caused by these trucks?”
The program hasn’t been around long enough for ‘statistics’.
Would it matter if there were? We have plenty of documentation of the thousands of deaths caused by illegal aliens but that hasn’t stopped the open border crowd, has it?
No, there aren’t, really. Which should give you an indication of why they aren’t plastered over the news.
If there is no evidence of a problem, why do the union's bidding and end a competitive, free market program?
Mexican trucks have been operating in the buffer zone (and in a few cases, farther) for decades.
You had to figure they were out of bullets when the greenies and the Teamsters filed suit to stop the trucks because they are “dirty.” Now that the Dems control Congress (and it’s an Election Year), all bets are off.
This isn’t about the ‘buffer zone’ is it?
This isn’t about the ‘safety’ is it?
Obama will definitely promise to end the program before he extends it.
If President Bush and Republicans had stood up for America, rather than actively assisting and promoting the treasonous pilfering of our nation by so-called “free traders”, Dems wouldn’t control congress.
Now, Dems have been handed one of the most powerful issues in history.
And the worst part is - they’re right.
Seeing that Obama is a Marxist, this might just be the point.
However, the real issue is that just like Canadian truckers, they will not adhere to the terms of the agreement, which is to go back and forth from US to Mexico, and will instead start doing US to US location trucking.
Good. I hope they are successful. They have already busted truckloads of illegals. Even ones in a water tanker truck. How special.
Now? Sorry, I’ve been following this issue since Ronald Reagan proposed NAFTA. You can pound the square peg into the round hole as much as you wish, but this issue has been around a lot longer than President Bush.
If they do, then we should take action
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