Bush, Dems Duel Over Mexican Trucks

W A S H I N G T O N, July 26, 2001 -- Differences over safety standards for Mexican trucks have provoked a partisan and racially tinged confrontation on Capitol Hill.

President Bush today called on lawmakers to grant trucks from Mexico greater access to U.S. roads without imposing new safety requirements more stringent than those applied to vehicles from the United States or Canada.

"It is wrong for the Congress to discriminate against Mexican trucks," Bush told reporters in the Oval Office this morning. "Whether it be people or trucks or businesses, I solidly reject discrimination."

The president's comments came amid harsh rhetoric and procedural maneuvering in the Senate over proposed safety standards for Mexican trucks.

Under the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement, the United States, beginning next year, must open its roads to Mexican trucks, which are now restricted to a 20-mile border zone.

Senate Democrats and some Republicans are pushing a measure that would bar the processing of applications for Mexican trucks operating in the United States until rigorous safety inspections are completed.

"Under our bill, when you're driving on the highway behind a Mexcian truck, you can feel safe," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who is co-sponsoring the measure — an amendment to a bill to fund the Transportation Department — with Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.

She cites department statistics showing that trucks from Mexico are 50 percent more likely to be ordered off the road for safety deficiencies than U.S. trucks.

Republicans Decry 'Discrimination'

But the Bush administration, Senate GOP leaders and the bulk of their members argue the restrictions are discriminatory and would violate NAFTA.

"I urge the Senate to reject an amendment to the transportation bill that would clearly discriminateagainst Mexican truckers," the president said today. "Our Mexican counterparts, frankly, need to be treated just like the Canadians are treated."

"I am not going to let Mexico be discriminated against," Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, vowed during floor debate this afternoon. "I don't think it is right. I don't think it is fair."

Supporters of the new safety requirements won a major victory today garnering 70 votes — 10 more than required — to defeat a procedural effort by opponents to scuttle the Democratic-backed amendment.

That crucial vote came a day after the Senate voted 65-35 to defeat a measure offered by Gramm and fellow Republican John McCain of Arizona that would have weakened the proposed safety standards.

"It bothers me that there's an anti-Mexican, anti-Hispanic, anti-NAFTA attitude among Democrats," Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., responded in a statement.

Democratic leaders cringed at the suggestion the safety provisions were borne of racial bias.

"I'm baffled and very deeply troubled by accusations of that kind … and I think it clouds the real issue," Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., told reporters on Capitol HIll today. "We will insist to the last hour of the debate … that safety have the priority that it deserves."

Democrats charge the GOP is simply looking out for business interests that want more trade with Mexico, while Republicans accuse Democrats of carrying water for labor unions worried about losing jobs.

"They're going to hire Mexican truckers that work at one-fifth of what American truckers work at and they're going to lay off the Americans and hire the Mexicans," said James Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. "That's the name of the game."

Bush has threatened to veto the transportation spending bill if it includes the safety requirements. Supporters of the restrictions would need 67 votes to override a presidential veto.

ABCNEWS' Linda Douglass contributed to this report from Capitol Hill.