Posted on 09/11/2007 5:09:04 PM PDT by ruination
WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Tuesday to ban Mexican trucks from U.S. roadways, rekindling a more than decade-old trade dispute with Mexico.
By a 74-24 vote, the Senate approved a proposal by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., prohibiting the Transportation Department from spending money on a North American Free Trade Agreement pilot program giving Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways.
The proposal is part of a $106 billion transportation and housing spending bill that the Senate hopes to vote on later this week. The House approved a similar provision to Dorgan's in July as part of its version of the transportation spending bill.
Supporters of Dorgan's amendment argued the trucks are not yet proven safe. Opponents said the U.S. is applying tougher standards to Mexican trucks than to Canadian trucks and failing to live up to its NAFTA obligations.
Until last week, Mexican trucks were restricted to driving within a commercial border zone that stretched about 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexican boundary, 75 miles in Arizona. One truck has traveled deep into the U.S. interior as part of the pilot program.
Blocking the trucks would help Democrats curry favor with organized labor, an important ally for the 2008 presidential elections.
"Why the urgency? Why not stand up for the (truck) standards that we've created and developed in this country?" Dorgan asked.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who drafted a Republican alternative to Dorgan's amendment, said the attempt to block the trucks appeared to be about limiting competition and may amount to discrimination against Mexico.
"I would never allow an unsafe truck on our highways, particularly Texas highways," he said.
Under NAFTA, Mexico can seek retaliation against the U.S. for failing to adhere to the treaty's requirements, including retaining tariffs on goods that the treaty eliminates, said Sidney Weintraub, a professor emeritus at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs in Austin.
The trucking program allows up to 100 Mexican carriers to send their trucks on U.S. roadways for delivery and pickup of cargo. None can carry hazardous material or haul cargo between U.S. points.
So far, the Department of Transportation has granted a single Mexican carrier, Transportes Olympic, access to U.S. roads after a more than decade-long dispute over the NAFTA provision opening up the roadways.
One of the carrier's trucks crossed the border in Laredo, Texas last week and delivered its cargo in North Carolina on Monday and was expected to return to Mexico late this week after a stop in Decatur, Ala.
The transportation bill is S. 1789.
No, you don’t understand. If we allow all our drives to be replaced, we can get waffles for five cents instead of six. You need to study market economics before making a bigger fool out of youself than you already have.
You’re wasting your breath.
When it became evident that missle technology had been trasnfered to China that gave them MIRV capability, better gyros and the ability to target U.S. cities within fifty feet with thier nukes for the first time, these folks applauded.
Thanks for the comments.
The Senate doing something right!
the American trucker may be worse off, that is unfortunate, but American society is made better off
No we won't be better off pal. You think the American trucker above will keep his standard of living if he has to come down to the Mexican truckers income level? Because that is exactly, eventually what will happen.
You’re making the false assumption that the trucker can only do that particular job.
Oh I see pal, were going to now train the 50 year old American trucker to be a senior aerospace engineer? Or is he going to apply at Wal-Mart?
Are we all going to be flipping burgers eventually. Oh wait, the illegals have those jobs.
‘the attempt to block the trucks appeared to be about limiting competition and may amount to discrimination against Mexico”
John Corolyn would rather discriminate against american truckers, than mexican truckers. Sorry for the spelling
OMG, i thought they were going to let the trucks roll over labor day weekend.
I styed home just because of that.
OMG, i thought they were going to let the trucks roll over labor day weekend.
I styed home just because of that.
Another one for the “broken clock is right twice a day” file.
BTTT!
Well, that’s one tenet of conservatism that I have always thought of as bedrock. But these aren’t true consevatives. Just let it go. They’ll run you off the forum if you let them.
How about just repealing NAFTA!
This may help you.
The average company driver in America earns 42k gross. He spends, on average, 48 weeks a year away from home, family, friends. Her costs, on the road, average $31.00 per day.
Truckers are 60 times more likely to suffer a heart attack by the age of 50 than non truckers. Cancer strikes truckers 20 times more frequently than non truckers. Joint and back injuries are the number one debilitating illness for truckers, ending the careers of approx. 20k per year. There are approx. 8 million class A & B CDL holders in the U.S., and only 3 million active drivers. Less than half are over the road drivers.
1 in 4 truckers have a HS diploma. 1 in 10 have a college degree.
It’s been removed now.
Don't count on it.
Well, whatever the reason at least they did the right thing. The GOP is scared $sh!!less from their last foray into amnesty and the RATs are kissing the unions behind.
The only loser in this group is the Treason Lobby.
“Teamster thugs elated.”
What Thug side are u on? Our Thugs or Mexican Thugs?
It appears u are for the Mexican Thugs
Just like a broken clock being right twice a day, the dems are right on this one.
I am confused. I thought the unions were all for amnesty.
The catch....;>)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.