Mexican Trucks: What is the Bush Administration Hiding?

To: LABOR EDITORS

Contact: Leslie Miller of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, +1-202-624-8734, lmiller@teamster.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following statement was issued today by Teamster General President Jim Hoffa:

It’s becoming more and more obvious that the Bush administration just won’t come clean with the American people about when the first Mexican truck will roll across the border.

We know the fix is in. The Bush administration gave the go-ahead for this so-called “pilot program” before receiving the inspector general’s report, which is required by law.

How could they give the go-ahead unless the results of the report — which is supposed to be independent — were dictated by Transportation Secretary Mary Peters?

I can only conclude the Bush administration is trying to sneak this reckless and unlawful program into existence.

No announcement has been made about its start date, which members of Congress say is expected soon.

The American people only found out about it after the Teamsters forced the Bush administration to admit — in a court of law — that it wanted to open the borders on Labor Day weekend.

When reporters tried to get a straight answer from the Department of Transportation, they couldn’t. Then we learned in a footnote to a legal document that the program might start on Thursday.

Now all we hear from the Department of Transportation is silence.

What is the Bush administration hiding?

It is time for the Bush administration to come out from the shadows and explain to Congress and to the American people why they are willing to blindly heed Mexico’s demands. Why will they do Mexico’s bidding despite Mexico’s failure to hold up its end of the bargain and raise safety standards to our level?

What is it about safety and national security that George Bush doesn’t understand?

Congress and the American public must demand accountability from the Bush administration. It is time to end the secrecy. It is time to come clean with the American people.”

Note: Legal documents filed in the case can be found at http://www.teamster.org.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

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