NAFTA Trucks

[MDOLAN <mdolan@citizen.org>]

  FORWARDED MESSAGE from  (GRA@SMTP {gra@inetport.com}) at 8/29/97 5:48 AM
  > NAFTA
  >
  > From the Austin American-Statesman, January 10, 1996:
  >
  > Members of the Teamsters Union protested in front of the Governor's
  > Mansion Thursday (Jan 9) in response to a December letter signed by
  > Gov. George W. Bush that asks President Clinton to lift a delay of
  > NAFTA trucking provisions.``We are here today to send a very simple
  > message to all Texans. Don't let Governor George Bush and his
  > big-business friends destroy highway safety and good Texas jobs,''
  > said John Riojas, Teamsters international vice president at
  > large.``The list of differences between U.S. an d Mexican safety
  > standards is very long, but Gov. Bush wants us to believe he can wave
  > a magic wand and these trucks will become safe when they drive on
  > Texas highways. He is dead wrong,'' Riojas said.
  > About 50 Teamsters joined in a rally at the Texas AFL-CIO offices
  > before marching one block to the Governor's Mansion chanting ``No more
  > NAFTA.''At issue is a provision of the North American Free Trade
  > Agreement that allows Mexican trucks to haul goods anywhere in Texas,
  > Arizona, New Mexico and California. Under the agreement, the trucks
  > were to be allowed in the border states beginning in December 1995 and
  > anywhere in the United States after 2000.Implementation was delayed in
  > December 1995 by the Transportation Department amid concerns that the
  > trucks didn't meet safety and weight requirements. Under the delay,
  > Mexican trucks can go no farther than 20 miles into the United
  > States.Bush and the governors of the three other border states sent a
  > letter to Clinton Dec. 18 asking for the delay to be lifted.
  > ``Gov. Bush has said that Texas will not tolerate unsafe or overweight
  > trucks on its roads and highways,'' said Bush spokesman Ray Sullivan.
  > ``Texas is fully prepared to enforce safety and weight laws. That will
  > be one of the best deterrents to unsafe trucks. NAFTA and trade with
  > Mexico is vitally important to Texas jobs.''
  > The Texas Department of Public Safety was allocated 109 new license
  > and weight troopers for fiscal years 1996 and 1997 to help enforce
  > safety and weight laws. All but 27 have been stationed. Fourteen new
  > truck inspection stations also have been approved, DPS spokeswoman
  > Laureen Chernow said, adding that three have opened.