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.
Uh, doesn’t look as though facts need apply to the dane fellow. He’s already got Hitler and the Nazis down on the border gassing six million Mexicans.
How EVIL! Internationalism is the current flair.
Really are there 20 million unemployed in the USA.
You are getting just as shrill and hysterical as hillary and obabma.
So is "socialist nationalism"(nazism) any better?
I guess you have never heard of the axiom, "those who do learn from the past, are doomed to repeat it".
I make a statement of fact that I can support with data to counter your claim of urban myths and I am making "cheap mental orgasmic political points"...?? my last laugh before going to bed...gee thanks!!...;o)
You’re assuming they load and unload at the border. I was under the impression they did a drop and hook. They don’t even break the seals to check the freight. All they do is a cursory safety inspection of the outside of the trailer. On a different note, since they will move all shipping ports to Mexico, instead of the USA, who do you think is gonna have first dibs on that freight? The American trucker? I don’t think so. And if you think my husband is going to go down into Mexico, with his $100,000 truck, you’re out of your freaking mind.
“The point is this. Mexican truckers come here and earn income. Do they spend it here? No.”
Well, he could be right.
Federal fuel excise tax is 24.4 cpg. It’s computed at the pump and State sales tax is added.
Then, at the end of the quarter, an IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) report is filed. They would add their miles in each jusrisdiction, divide that by the total gallon purchased to get their MPG. Using that, they would then nultiply their miles by the MPG to determine the number of tax due gallons. Then multiply the tax due gallons by that States’ fuel tax amount, and that’s the tax revenue due. If there is an overpayment, they get a credit, underpayment they must pay. Since there is no way for the US to verify the Mexcian fuel purchases, they could very easily manipulate the system, and not pay a cent.
And you really don’t see the racism dripping from your posts?
I think all anyone wants here is for foreign nationals to enter the country legally and play by the same rules as everyone else....and for that we get called nazis...well then I must be a nazi!....damn..who knew!
Just as a friendly reminder, if you mention my name in a reply. please have the cajones to ping me.
Which you did not have on reply #501 of this thread.
Maybe we will get somewhere if you first notice your dripping mess.
No? Then why do you keep characterizing Mexicans as nothing more than toilet scrubbers and dish washers?
I am no fan of Byron Dorgan, I have never voted for him, and I have lived up here in North Dakota for decades.
However, even Senator Dorgan, whatever his motives can occasionally do the right thing.
There is a part of this country where in winter trucks from warmer climates are a hazard. They are ill equipped to deal with the weather, the road conditions, and the brutal cold.
In the oilfield, we see it frequently when some guy hauls a load up from Texas in the winter, with tanks full of no. 2 Diesel, no tire chains, and thin treads on the rest. SOme of those guys don't even have a decent coat.
At least they can understand English and know what they need to do to drive up here (if they will listen and they seldom come up here unprepared twice.).
You would infiltrate our roads with people who have rarely (if ever) seen snow, to have them drive hundreds of miles on it?
At least the Canadians know how to drive in winter.
Really? Would you mind pointing it out?
Translation: U.S. Senate sides with union thugs.
So why don't you get byron dorgan on the phone and ban trucks from Florida.
Since it’s obvious to everyone that you’re reading all the posts, that’s really not an issue.
You aren’t worth it. Please KMA.
Uh yeah it is an issue, and I guess I should be tarred and feathered for having the audacity to have the capacity to read.
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