Thursday, June 21, 2007

Teamsters say Bush administration defying Congress over Mexico trucking

Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa lambasted the Bush administration today for planning to defy Congress and the American people by rushing ahead with its reckless cross-border pilot program.

Hoffa spoke at a news conference on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and truck safety advocates. They issued a study showing how the Bush administration is dodging truck safety requirements in its zeal to open the border to unsafe Mexican trucks.

“George Bush is trying to do as much damage to this country as he can before he leaves office,” Hoffa said.

The Bush administration has said it will ignore Congress and instead rely on the Mexican government to ensure the safety of Mexican trucks traveling freely along our highways, Hoffa said.

Hoffa pointed out that the Transportation Department admits Mexico doesn’t have drug testing facilities. He also said the inspector general says DOT can’t trust its own database to flag Mexican truck drivers with traffic convictions.

“It’s no secret that it’s easy for an unqualified driver to get a Mexican driver’s license,” Hoffa said.

The group also released a poll showing a clear majority—57 percent—of the American people disapprove of allowing unsafe Mexican trucks to travel beyond the current commercial zones.

“The Bush administration is brazenly ignoring the will of the American people by planning to open our highways to Mexican trucks,” Hoffa said.

Hoffa was joined by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., Joan Claybrook of Public Citizen, Jackie Gillan of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and Josh Ulibarri, of Lake Research.

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