Steve Kagen (D-Appleton) is applauding Tuesday's vote by the House that forbids the Transportation Secretary from allowing Mexican truckers onto American highways. The Appleton Democrat co-sponsored the measure saying an earlier Congressional vote on the matter was ignored by the Bush administration. He claims the President violated Congressional law by moving forward with a temporary program that allowed 100 Mexican companies to move goods 75 miles into US territory. He called the move by Bush "unfair to the American trucking industry."
The Democrat believes the issue goes beyond economics into a matter of securing and defining US borders.
"Any nation that fails to define its borders ceases to exist."
The latest approved House bill states any future pilot program involving Mexican truckers must first get Congressional approval. Kagen says before any of the foreign truckers are allowed in the states, there should be assurances they can road signs and adhere to safety standards.