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.
I have acknowledged a number of additional concerns: safety, contraband, illegal immigration, environmental standards, and non reciprocity for US drivers. I do not want the program if there are significant compromises in these areas.
Yes I agree about the language and FAA requirements. I am advocating the same for the Mexican drivers and trucks.
The same will apply to Mexican trucks. The Mexican trucks will be inspected at the border and final destination.
You need to focus on alternatives. The alternative to Bush was Gore. Do you prefer Al Gore to George Bush? I do not agree with Bush on a number of positions including illegal immigration but on balance he is far preferred to Al Gore. I would argue the same for John Coryn. You may disagree with his stance on this trucking issue but on balance he is far preferrable to any rat who may replace him.
How can this be? For years I’ve been told on FR that the WTO supercedes American law!
As I recall your post was related to gas tax fees the Mexican drivers would pay. So what. Are they going to live here, purchase a home, pay local state and federal taxes, support the community businesses?
No.
Dane, IMO you comments are sophmoric. U.S. truckers pay these fees, so they are a wash. Neutral.
What I’ve been addressing is the expenditure of full income in the U.S.
Thanks.
Good advice....Sir...
I am considering the alternatives.....the primaries...and I will vote for any conservative that opposes Cornyn...
Rationalization of Republican failures only invite more failures....
Grow up and grow a spine....is my advice to you.
Ben, by 1985 this nation was the most successful nation on the face of mother earth. We didn’t have trading partnerships with pariah states like China, and we didn’t have NAFTA, and we didn’t have FTAA.
I don’t mind trade with other nations. It just makes no sense to sell our souls on issue like this. China? For crying out loud Ben. Take a good look at that nation, what’s it’s doing even today...
I don’t buy into this Ben. I don’t approve of opening our borders, multi-nation security agreements and FTAA.
Sorry bud, I’m not buying it.
You can spend your time giving me excuse after excuse why all this makes wonderful logical sense, and I’ll still not approve.
I have no idea what you're raving about.
(Maybe you should have checked the license plates on those "co-owned" rigs, Cal is loaded with mexican drivers in US registered trucks and, from years on the 710, I can attest to the low standards of even those trucks.)
That didn't work in the last national election.....did it?
It damn sure won't in the next. I assure you, I will not shoot myself in the foot, but in Texas I will oppose Cornyn in the primaries....
These dragging anchors in the Republican party must be dealt with....no excuses...no rationalizations...
By the 1970s this nation's comparative trade advantage had seriously eroded. That is why she turned to bilateral trade.
Ben, this nation generates something like 300% of the GNP of any other nation on the planet. You did know that right? Only a few nations even comes that close. Generally it’s something like ten or twenty to one.
Trade simply IS NOT the end all be all of national existance.
Um, sure. Pull your head out of that dark hole of yours and face up to the facts. Illegals from coast to coast are killing US citizens and no BS lie of yours will make that go away.
Someone must have had the light come on in the Democrat Party and the Teamsters. Perhaps even the Longshoreman's Union is seeing the light also.
First: Mexican companies get unrestricted access to U.S. highways.
Second: Companies seeking better profits establish operations just over the Mexican border. American truckers lose jobs.
Third: China, in cooperation with the Mexican Government, builds huge ports in Mexico. American Longshoremen lose jobs.
A huge amount of capital and wages (that giant sucking sound) flow to Mexico, and Americans suffer.
Lastly: Unlimited amounts of drugs, weapons, and illegal aliens, along with the rise in pollution, vehicle fatalities, crime, disease, and welfare entitlements, arrive in America courtesy of NAFTA.
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