Teamsters Praise House Bill Banning Unsafe Mexican Trucks

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/teamsters-praise-house-bill-banning/story.aspx?guid={55BB21EF-90C7-45A2-B50E-A105695FF85C}&dist=hppr

Last update: 4:39 p.m. EDT July 31, 2008
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Hoffa Lauds Passage of DeFazio Bill In House Transportation Committee

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa commended the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today for approving a bill to stop the Bush administration's reckless pilot program allowing unsafe trucks from Mexico to travel freely throughout the United States.

"It's outrageous that this program has been allowed to continue despite the fact that it's endangering American lives," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "How many people must die on our highways before the Bush administration wakes up?"

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., bans the pilot program by Sept. 6. It also prohibits the transportation secretary from granting authority to any Mexican trucks beyond the commercial zone, unless specifically authorized by Congress. The bill passed unanimously by a voice vote.

"I commend Rep. DeFazio and the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for taking a stand today to protect the lives of American drivers and their families," Hoffa said.

A federal law took effect on Dec. 26 that bans funding for the Bush administration's pilot program. But in brazen defiance of that and other laws, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) claimed it did not understand the intent of the law. FMCSA refused to shut down the pilot project that had begun shortly after Labor Day last year.

FULL story at link.

[Bluzmann57]

1. Good for the Teamsters

As a Union man, I had doubts about the Teamsters loyalty during the 2000 election. Hoffa came right out and endorsed bush. They were counting on ANWR and the jobs Hoffa thought would come with it. But at least this time the Teamsters got it right.

[sam sarrha]

2. no problem.. they just pull off all the inspectors from the boarder.. let'm run thru, i lived in El

Paso.. they started letting them in and 8 out of 10 failed safety tests, the day after the info got out they pulled all but 1 inspector off the boarder.. nothing to see here folks, ..move along