The Senate adjourned on Friday without addressing the controversial border issues that are included in the Department of Transportation spending bill. President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation unless changes are made that will allow the border to open to Mexican trucks next Jan. 1.

Previously the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee had adopted provisions that would have addressed most of the safety and related issues involved with trucks from Mexico operating throughout the U.S. That vote was bipartisan and unamimous. (Click here to view the Murray/Shelby amendment)

Leading the Senate opposition to the Murray/Shelby safety provison is Sen. John McCain, (R-AZ), Sen. Phil Gramm, (R-TX), and Sen. Kit Bond, (R-MO). In comments at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, McCain seemed to view the safety provisions as discriminatory toward Mexico. Congressional Quarterly quoted Gramm saying, "When you start infringing on another nation's sovereignty, it's protectionism. It's not a safety issue." Bond has reportedly said that NAFTA border restrictions will hurt Missouri agriculture.

"While there may be a couple of areas where the Murray/Shelby amendment went farther than necessary to assure safety compliance on America's highways," says OOIDA's Todd Spencer, "most of the provisions make perfect safety sense."

Additionally, no discussion has ever been held as to who or how U.S. laws on immigration, cabotage and labor will be enforced.

Negotiations are likely to take place over the weekend with floor debate to begin on Monday.

"Be sure your senators know how you feel on this very important issue bright and early Monday morning," says Spencer.

Go Here for the contact information for your senators.