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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.
my bad my bad.
’ Sen. John Cornyn, R-Mexico, 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.’
corrected :)
Yeah, but they're OUR Teamster thugs.
WOW....first time I ever saw a TRIPLE PING! Sorry everyone.
bsco, I’m afraid to put your name into the To: line
Junior, Earl and Earl Jr. are proud!
I’d like to point out that the parenthetical commentary wasn’t entered by me.
I agree. They are our Unions, exercising their rights as free Americans.
LOL.
bttt
Why oppose competition?
Why assume someone born here is of necessity superior to someone not so fortunate as to their birthplace?
;)
This is a ping list promoting Immigration Enforcement and Congressional Reform.
If you wish to be added or removed from this ping list, please contact me.
John Cornyn is one of the good guys. You may disagree with him on this point, but it would be a serious loss were he to leave office.
If we can't let Mexican trucks into the country, what idiot believes that we're just going to merge with Mexico (and Canada)? Oh, right, Corsi. LOL!
it’s called putting your country first. Keeping in mind who wields the power. The People.
Bravo Teamsters! Bravo Democrats!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1847293/posts
Is Congress Trying to Dodge a Lawsuit on Immigration? - Vanity
definition of discriminate: to recognize or perceive the difference
It is about time we perceived the difference between Mexico and the United States.
Are you saying that is not the title you entered? Someone changed it?
Apparently it's snowing.
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