LaHood won't challenge Congressional efforts to end Mexico truck project

The Trucker ^ | February 27th | Lyndon Pinney

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

The U.S. Department of Transportation will make no attempt to stop Sen. Byron Dorgan's effort to kill the Cross Border Demonstration Project, The Trucker learned Friday afternoon.

Earlier this week, Dorgan, a Democrat from North Dakota, included language in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill that the senator said would finally bring to an end “the Mexican long-haul trucking program in the U.S. started by the Bush Administration.”

The bill, not to be confused with the stimulus package, allocates federal funds for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Sources have told The Trucker that LaHood has indicated he will not stand in the way of Dorgan's efforts.

Asked whether LaHood was in favor of letting the project die, a DOT spokesman declined comment.

Later Friday, The Trucker learned that while LaHood might not challenge Dorgan's effort, the White House was considering whether to issue a Statement of Administrative Policy asking Congress to take a second look at Dorgan's proposal because of the ramifications ending the program might have to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

This smacks of protectionism to me.

[NonValueAdded]

Protectionism caries an extremely expensive price tag: Economic stupidity

I'm sure this is a quid pro quo to the unions but will be couched in the safety argument about Mexican trucks, an argument that has some merit. Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, they are.

[Joe Boucher]

Just the beginning of the magic negro paying back unions.

[rockinqsranch]

“Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, they are.”

IMO one three letter word response is all that is necessary to your post.

Y-E-S.

[cripplecreek]

Absolutely.

The union gets the headline but they’re hardly the only driving force behind this.

[Vaduz]

Congress at work.

[padre35]

That and gasoline and diesel are subsidized at 50% in Mexico, that gives the Mexican Trucking companies a clear advantage.

[wolfcreek]

Yeah, protecting our butts from unsafe Mexican trucks and their incompetent drivers.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

That’s a good point, but it can only give them an advantage so far into our nation. Once they reach a certain mileage, they’ll have to buy fuel here in order to get back or complete a journey.

[calex59]

Anyone who thinks the long haul truck project was a good thing has rocks in their heads instead of brains. Just another stupid move on Bush’s part involving kissing the butt of the Mexican government.

[NavVet]

The only Mexicans we don't want apparently are the ones that come here to do a specific job and then go back home, after spending a few pesos in American businesses. If the truckers were poor, and promised to stay in America and apply for government benefits, I bet the Dems would love the program.

[Malesherbes]

When I hear “protectionism” I always wonder - exactly what is it we are protecting. In this case maybe we are protecting the public from (among other things) reckless drivers hauling drugs.

[mefistofelerevised]

No, we don’t need Mexican truckers driving on our roads. I’d rather pay more and not get killed by more bad truck drivers. Let them take whatever to the border and transfer it to American trucks.

[cripplecreek]

The word protectionism is supposed to end all argument. Kinda like calling someone a racist.

[pappyone]

“...U.S. trucking companies will benefit since reciprocal changes in Mexico’s rules permit U.S. trucks new access to that country.”

And what American trucker in their right mind would want to haul to Mexico? Also seems to me that, rightly so, folks get real upset every time a drunk illegal driver kills an American on the highway. Does everyone out there really think that Mexican truckers meet the same standards as American truckers? Doubtful.

[bcsco]

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[upchuck]

Have y’all seen these trucks?

The Bush Administration made a lot of noise about these trucks and drivers being subjected to strenuous safety checks.

BS. The Mexican trucks I’ve seen looked like they would fall apart at any minute.

[reagan_fanatic]

The word protectionism is supposed to end all argument. Kinda like calling someone a racist.

Bump.

[BilLies]

fta “Sources have told The Trucker that LaHood has indicated he will not stand in the way of Dorgan’s efforts.”
I didn't realize that LaHood went under the alias of Harry Reid.

The wacko radio show “Coast to Coast AM” regularly runs segments showing how this is part of the One World conspiracy. For some reason, they don't seem to be including the Canadian trucks into the conspiracy

[padre35]

Things like that, the little tilting of the field, that is a part of the reason why Trade has become a third rail issue.