Thread: US Officials Battle Over Mexican Trucks

Published Monday | March 10, 2008
US Officials Battle Over Mexican TrucksBy SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - A senator wants Congress' investigative arm to determine whether the Transportation Department has broken the law by spending federal money on a program allowing Mexican trucks on U.S. roads.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., called for the investigation by the General Accountability Office a few hours after Transportation Secretary Mary Peters warned of economic losses if Mexican trucks are prohibited from driving deep into the U.S.

Peters has been fighting in court to prevent the program's end. But Dorgan and others say Congress prohibited spending money on the program last year.

"When Congress passes a law that says no funds can be used for this program, we mean no funds can be used for this program," Dorgan said in a news release. "The Department of Transportation cannot simply pick and choose which laws they want to follow and which laws they want to break."

Dorgan said the agency is violating the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits spending federal money that has not been authorized or appropriated.

The North American Free Trade Agreement gave Mexican trucks greater access to U.S. roads beginning in 1995. But the U.S. only opened the roads to a few trucks when the pilot program began last September.

Long-standing opposition from labor and safety groups had kept the trucks off most U.S. roads. Without the program, Mexican trucks are confined to about 25 miles beyond the border, where goods they bring are picked up by U.S. truck drivers.

Peters said Monday the agency is not violating the law. The law prohibits using funds to establish the program, she said, but the money is being used on the existing program. The agency has made similar arguments in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is considering an appeal by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to stop the program.

The action was a prelude to a potentially bitter Senate committee hearing on the program planned for Tuesday, with Peters scheduled to testify.

Earlier Monday, Peters said U.S. business would suffer if the trucking program is stopped.

"Should Congress ... end the cross-border trucking, Mexico has every right to impose fees and tariffs on the very goods we see before us this morning and many more," Peters told a news conference. Before her were tables loaded with apples, ham, soybeans, rice, eggs, canned chili and meat, beef, milk, whiskey and other products.

Todd Spencer, vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, called Peters' claims "economic fear-mongering."

"The program is supposed to work both ways across the border, and yet there are very few signing up on either side," Spencer said in a statement. "Big businesses want the cheap labor, but for a number of reasons trucking companies on both sides of the border don't want to get involved."

The latest numbers from the Transportation Department show 18 Mexican carriers with 62 trucks and six U.S. carriers with 46 trucks are participating in the program. Up to 500 trucks from 100 Mexican carriers can participate.

Mexican trucks have made 322 crossings into the U.S., while U.S. trucking companies have made 683 crossings into Mexico.

James Hoffa, International Brotherhood of Teamsters president, said he doesn't buy Peters' argument that Mexico will sanction U.S. goods with higher tariffs in retaliation. Mexico has a $70 billion trade surplus because of NAFTA and "they'd be foolish to do it," Hoffa said.

Ricardo Alday, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington, said Mexico is keeping its options open.

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On the Net:

Transportation Department: http://www.dot.gov
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1 ... d=10279680

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., called for the investigation by the General Accountability Office a few hours after Transportation Secretary Mary Peters warned of economic losses if Mexican trucks are prohibited from driving deep into the U.S.

Geez, what is she basing that assumption on? It's not like the program has been going on for years - it just started this past September. I agree with Mr. Spencer.

Todd Spencer, vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, called Peters' claims "economic fear-mongering."

"Mexico has a 70 BILLION dollar Trade Surplus" . And the USA is broke . Yes we got screwed by NAFTA . Got run in the gutter and now have millions of illegals running round taking the very few jobs out there .
FYI : the Feds have just last year set a wage for US company truck drivers. It ain't much . I made more in 1975 trucking cross country . Do ya'll understand the implications of this wage setting ?

Story from Houston Chronicle and the AP


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5606414.html

Transit chief fights effort to ban Mexican trucks

By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Mary Peters surrounded herself with some well-known U.S. exports — corn, rice and Jack Daniel's whiskey — to dramatize her warning today of economic losses if Mexican trucks are kept off U.S. roads.

Peters is fighting in court against a law that sought to end a pilot project allowing Mexican trucks greater access to U.S. roads.

The North American Free Trade Agreement gave Mexican trucks the access beginning in 1995. But the U.S. only opened the roads to a few trucks when the pilot program began last September.

Long-standing opposition from labor and safety groups had kept the trucks off most U.S. roads. Without the program, Mexican trucks are confined to about 25 miles beyond the border where goods they bring are picked up by a U.S. truck driver to deliver throughout the U.S.

Peters' predictions came the day before a Senate committee's hearing on the program. Congress tried to stop the program by stripping money for the project from the Department of Transportation last year.

"Should Congress ... end the cross border trucking, Mexico has every right to impose fees and tariffs on the very goods we see before us this morning and many more," Peters told a news conference. Before her were tables loaded with apples, ham, soybeans, rice, eggs, canned chile and meat, beef, a milk carton, bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey and other products.

Todd Spencer, vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, called Peters' claims "economic fear-mongering."

"The program is supposed to work both ways across the border, and yet there are very few signing up on either side," Spencer said in a statement. "Big businesses want the cheap labor, but for a number of reasons trucking companies on both sides of the border don't want to get involved."

The latest numbers from the Department of Transportation show 18 Mexican carriers with 62 trucks and six U.S. carriers with 46 trucks are participating in the program. Up to 500 trucks from 100 Mexican carriers can participate.

Mexican trucks have made 322 crossing into the U.S. interior and U.S. trucking companies have made 683 crossings into Mexico.

James Hoffa, International Brotherhood of Teamsters president, said he doesn't buy Peters' argument that Mexico will sanction U.S. goods with higher tariffs in retaliation. Mexico has a $70 billion trade surplus because of NAFTA and "they'd be foolish to do it," Hoffa said.

Ricardo Alday, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington, said Mexico is keeping its options open.

"Geez, what is she basing that assumption on? It's not like the program has been going on for years - it just started this past September. I agree with Mr. Spencer. "

Jeez MW , Johnny Sutton told her that and its straight from the President!!!

"When Congress passes a law that says no funds can be used for this program, we mean no funds can be used for this program," Dorgan said in a news release. "The Department of Transportation cannot simply pick and choose which laws they want to follow and which laws they want to break."

There she goes again. Putting food items on display like a special project at school or something, and then telling Congress that America will be in terrible trouble IF Mexican trucks cant keep entering our country and dropping off foreign goods.

Congress voted for this law to put a stop to Mary Peters outrageous program of promoting illegal aliens and their broken down trucks from entering the U.S. It is very simple.

WHAT MAKES MARY PETERS BELIEVE SHE IS ABOVE THE LAW? She continues to argue like she is representing the Mexico government. What is wrong with this woman?

Earlier Monday, Peters said U.S. business would suffer if the trucking program is stopped.

The U.S. is suffering because the Military Contract for U.S. military tankers went to Europe--where was your concern then..........

Stop the excuses, stop playing with words--stop the Mexican trucking into the U.S.

I want to know why this woman Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, isnt on trial and heading to a Federal Prison or preferably a FEMA Camp

Originally Posted by FedUpInNebraska

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters warned of economic losses if Mexican trucks are prohibited from driving deep into the U.S

Whose economic losses, U.S. or Mexico???

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

I want to know why this woman Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, isnt on trial and heading to a Federal Prison or preferably a FEMA Camp

If she was appointed by Bush, then that would explain everything..picking and choosing which laws she will abide by. This why Dorgan is making his move for an investigation.