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Implications of Republican sweep, part II

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Here's a quote from your own link FM... << Mr. CLEMENT. Or less. Mr. Chairman, the coastwise laws of the United States go back almost 200 years. This U.S. restriction is not unique. Virtually every nation restricts its domestic transportation system to its own citizens. Today's hearing is really about jobs—jobs for U.S. citizens employed in our domestic shipping industry, jobs for U.S. citizens employed by our Nation's shipyards, and jobs for U.S. citizens employed in our domestic trucking and rail industries who should not have to compete for those jobs. Our immigration laws do not allow foreigners to take land-based jobs from U.S. citizens and taxpayers. This should not be allowed in our domestic water transportation system and industries, either. Yes, it may be possible to maybe decrease the cost of transportation to other industries, but if we follow that slippery slope, shouldn't we also allow our manufacturers in the United States to employ low-cost wage-earners from Third World countries? Shouldn't we eliminate all of our minimum wage and health and safety laws? The United States has been a world leader in improving work place standards. Through international agreements, we're trying to bring the rest of the world up to a level of safety and health. Those who would have us repeal the Jones Act would have us go in the opposite direction. Instead of bringing everyone up to the highest level of safety, they would have us all sink to the lowest common denominator—lowest wages, lowest benefits, and lowest safety standards. The attacks over the past 18 months on the Jones Act have done nothing but make investors nervous. Oil companies are hesitant to sign 5-year charters for tankers. Bankers are hesitant to issue mortgage on tankers without these long-term charters unless the Government guarantees the mortgage. >> Sounds strikingly familiar to my and Mark's earlier links. Seems as though there are strong arguments that have kept the Jones Act in place. I don't see any new justification for eliminating it... LC
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