It isnot just Bikers that Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is pissing off

WASHINGTON, Feb 07, 2008 -- Representatives Admonish Transportation Secretary For Keeping Border Open To Trucks From Mexico

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters today was told point blank by three members of Congress to close the border to trucks from Mexico.

Peters kept the border open after a law was enacted to close it. The U.S. Senate voted 75 to 23 and the House voted 411 to 3 to forbid funding for the unsafe pilot project allowing Mexican trucks to use U.S. highways.

The legislation became law on December 26, 2007 as part of the Omnibus budget bill.

Peters' fellow Arizonan Ed Pastor, a Democrat, cautioned her that the constitutional separation of powers means that she must follow the intent of Congress.

"I advise you that the program as it is should not be implemented," Pastor told Peters during a budget hearing by the Transportation subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, said, "You violated the law."

Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas, asked rhetorically, "Does the department have the legal authority to disregard Congress's intent?"

Rodriguez noted that Peters' pilot program to open the border to Mexican trucks continues.

"The intent of the language was to prohibit that from occurring," Rodriguez told Peters.

Jim Hoffa, Teamsters general president, thanked the members of Congress for defending the Constitution.

"If Mary Peters thinks the pilot program is lawful, she should consult the Supreme Court," Hoffa said. "The court ruled that if the intent of Congress is clear, that is the end of the matter."

The Teamsters today launched a national grassroots, netroots campaign to alert the public to the Transportation Secretary's lawless actions.

The "Fire Mary Peters" campaign kicked off today with subway ads, radio commercials, Web ads, bumper stickers and a Web site. Teamster Union headquarters have been besieged by requests for bumper stickers that say, "Fire Mary Peters -- She Breaks the Law."

For more information about the campaign, go to www.FireMaryPeters.com.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

http://www.FireMaryPeters.com

And Girl Geek sent the following here, posted here so you can to:
"For one, many people did not even know who Mary Peters was…..”

I am the wife of a retired Teamster (Local 107, Philadelphia). I am
also a member of another group that knows full well who Mary Peters is:
the motorcyclists’ rights activist community.

We have a common enemy, and the issue is strikingly similar. Ms. Peters
is skirting the intent and spirit of the law. In doing so, she thumbs
her nose at the will of the people.

While Ms. Peters constructs nebulous “loopholes” to allow the Mexican
truck pilot program, she is also attempting to alter the language of
existing legislation in SAFETEA-LU which will divert funds away from
motorcycle safety and training in order to promote her own personal
agenda.

Her arrogance is unconscionable.

The Teamsters’ “Fire Mary Peters” campaign is being distributed far and
wide across the country to the motorcycle-riding community. The
Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is taking strong action in what they
call Ms. Peters’ walking “on the edge of federal regulations.”

We must keep the pressure on. 

MADD Ray From Motorcyclists Against Dumb Drivers  (MADD) has added:

Teamsters,

I don't work in a business that is unionized, but I've never
crossed a workers' picket line at a grocery store or anywhere else in
my life.

What I want to say though is that there is truth to the saying,
"the enemy of your enemy is your friend."

Mary Peters has attacked a bunch of organized bikers, and if you
don't know about us, we are ABATE, A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian
Enactments, millions strong nationwide and BOLT, Bikers of Lesser
Tolerance, among many other biker organizations devoted to regaining
our dignity and freedom to ride without the government telling us what
kind of riding hat to wear.

"I had a dream," and my dream was that there was a long line of 18
wheelers mixed with Harley Davidsons descending on Washington, D.C.,
standing side by side in opposition to Mary Peters.

You just let us know, brothers in arms, and we will join you in any effort
that is calculated to bring Ms. Peters down.
Ray Henke
Bikers of Lesser Tolerance, BOLT, California (posted here)

And a very large "You go Guy" needs to go to:

Garry Van Kirk
Bikers Accident Survivor Forum
bikeraccsurvivor@bacsuv.com
B.O.L.T.

For banging away for allowing Dear Ms. Peters no peace.

So picture in your mind if you will Bikers and Truckers converging on Washington DC to
let them no "THE PEOPLE" are freaking sick and tired of them not only trampling on our rights,
but breakng the law and using "OUR" money to do itAdd to Technorati Favorites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

INteresting concept, wonder if it will work?

Found this in the Tallahassee Democrat as a response to a Bicyclist who had written a letter to the editor about a motorcyclist who about blew him of the road.

Elio, thanks for the note about the Florida "3 foot rule" of clearance for bicycles. One interesting note: If the cyclist has a licensed gun carry permit, and since the driver who breaks this law is endangering the cyclist's life, legally, the cyclist can shoot and kill the driver in self-defense. REALLY. Another good reason to pay respect to cyclists. BTW, A driver's license IS A PRIVILEGE, Riding a bike IS A RIGHT that cannot be taken away.
2/27/2008 5:32:57 AM

Now I ain't no lawyer so I ain't really sure about this. I mean like to be legal would you have to be sure you got your shot off while the dude was within the 3 foot zone? If you did manage to hit him and his motorcycle goes careening into another vehicle whose at fault? Can a dead rider be charged? Would you need witnesses to testify as to who violated the 3 foot zone to begin with? The motorcyclist or the bicyclist?

The other interesting scenario, to me anyway, is that the "biker" (????) that blew this bicyclist off probably didn't know that the bicyclist is also a "Biker". Now I'm quite certain that "Bikers" (????) that can't seem to find enough room on the road to keep from blowing off a bicycle are "bad asses." I'm just wondering if they are staying in shape bad asses as apparently the Bicycling Biker is at least staying in shape. Cause see I'm picturing in my mind bad ass biker that blew off bicycle biker drinkin a beer up at bike night when Bicycle Biker taps him on the shoulder and says, "hey remember the bicycle you blew off the road the other day......"

Can you like just taste the irony? After all isn't there this ilttle gig about if you want respect you have to be willing to give it???

But the valuable piece of info here that maybe needs to be explored a little further is, Does this mean you can legally shoot the idiot on a cell phone that pulls into your lane damn near killing you?

Hmmmmmm, gonna have to look into that one!Add to Technorati Favorites