McCain introduces bill to repeal the Jones Act

AP ^ | 2010-06-26

[rabscuttle385]

U.S. Sen. John McCain has introduced legislation to repeal a 90-year-old maritime law that requires vessels transporting goods between states to have been built in the United States, be crewed and owned by U.S. citizens and fly the U.S. flag.

The law, known as the Jones Act, has been criticized recently for allegedly hampering foreign ships offering assistance in the cleanup of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

[thethirddegree]

All Obama had to do was waive the Act, the lazy know-nothing muslim puke.

[Diogenesis]

The SEIU and the undocumented Emperor will not like this.

[farmguy]

Never let a good crisis go to waste.

[Mr. Wright]

Could be the makings of a GREAT ad for the coming election in November - we all know the RATS will oppose this.
They are in the back pocket of the Unions!!

[sport]

Another step on the path to our demise and destruction as a Nation.But, by the caliber of “leaders” we, as a Nation, elect, that is what we, as a Nation, desire. And we are almost there. By no later thhan 2012, our National debt will be substantially higher than our gross National product.

[sodpoodle]

We should invoke the Jones Act to handle the BC question.

Was that BOat actually built in the US, by US workers????

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm??

[arthurus]

One major purpose of the Jones Act is to have sufficient shipping readily available to the military in the event of war induced need such as in WWII. If there is no possibility that such shipping can ever be so needed again then repeal Jones. Otherwise, keep it. It is like forbidding the contracting out of infantry and air superiority to other countries.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

“All Obama had to do was waive the Act, the lazy know-nothing muslim puke.”

I'm not defending Obama, as I agree on the know-nothing mooselimb puke part, but I worry about the unintended consequences of waving or repealing the Jones Act.
It would open up our ports to even further invasions from vessels built, owned and manned by muslims, illegal aliens and the rest of Americas enemies.

[craigster_nc]

"Never let a good crisis go to waste."

This works both ways. This is a great opportunity to slap the unions back!

[BuffaloJack]

We don’t need to repeal it, just termprarily waive it.
If there’s anything that needs repealing its healthcare all things environmental and the soon to be bank grab.

[craigster_nc]

So who owns and mans all the ships bringing in oil and goods now? Who owns and mans all of the cruise ships? How did the Russian ships get permission to visit SF? This law is bullsh8t!

[craigster_nc]

So who owns and mans all the ships bringing in oil and goods now? Who owns and mans all of the cruise ships? How did the Russian ships get permission to visit SF? This law is bullsh8t!

[Sacajaweau]

Once again, I think this is more about Unions.

[craigster_nc]

Sorry for the double post. It took forever for the comment to post for some reason today.

[craigster_nc]

See post 12. When are we enforcing this now?

[ikka]

It has to do with boats that travel from one US state to another, not boats that come from another country with cargo to deliver to a US port of entry.

Thus a Russian ship can pick up a container in Amsterdam and deliver it to New York City; but, it cannot pick up a container in New York and then drop it off in Virginia.

[WellyP]

I don’t agree becaust the Act may be waived when needed.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Jones Act has nothing to do with foreign ships delivering goods to our shores from overseas. It covers only goods shipped from US ports to US ports.
But, more than a decade ago, the Canadian National railroad company bought US Steel's Great Lakes fleet of ore carriers (which carry ore from Minnesota to Gary, Indiana steel mills) and no one complained that this was a violation of the Act.
McCain’s bill is pointless.

[Sacajaweau]

When they had the Ferry on Lake Ontario at the Port of Rochester, the ferry couldn't "move" until it was manned by a US Mariner and flying under the US Flag.

There should be an article someplace about how it worked....It was a big deal at the time.

My bro is a former Mariner....can you say UNION!!!