The Federal Maritime Commission’s continuing delay of a key component of the Clean Trucks Program has become synonymous with one simple phrase. “Classic Bush Administration” is a logical guess – and not incorrect – but the Road believes “colossal mistake,” coined by the lone dissenting Commissioner Stephen Joseph E. Brennan, takes the cake. (See Colossal Mistake Samples 1, 2 and 3 ).
Despite earning this brand, the 2 commissioners responsible for the clean-air holdup have yet to adequately explain their secretive behind-close-doors maneuvering. Their decision to sue the ports and shelve the cargo fee at the request of industry clean-air opponents has been questioned by environmental leaders, local residents, and trucking companies alike, and the Democratic Majority in Congress is paying attention:.
Nearly 10,000 Southern California constituents recently emailed and sent postcards to their congressional representatives urging them to contact the FMC. On January 7th, 31 California Members of Congress sent (another) letter to the FMC seeking explanation.
President-elect Barack Obama, along with Secretary of State-designee Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senators Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi strongly endorsed the Los Angeles Clean Trucks Program. In just four days (yes we are counting), the Obama Administration will have the ability to join the quest for answers, and more importantly move quickly to appoint new FMC commissioners that share a commitment to the environmentally and economically sound LA Clean Trucks Program.
The recalcitrant but obscure agency could very well be a top priority for President Obama. As the Press-Telegram points out, “The congressional letter is the latest in a series of high-profile notes, speeches and statements from Democratic leaders in Washington supporting the….approach – signs that may portend personnel changes on the FMC board early in the Obama administration.”
The fact that Proposition 1B money scheduled to help fund an environmentally-friendly fleet was officially put on ice due to California budget crisis only adds to the urgency expressed by community and elected leaders. (Note to Port of Oakland and Long Beach Commissioners: If the state can’t afford to meet clean-truck requirements, then underpaid port drivers most certainly cannot. Time to make the industry pay once and for all.)
In the meantime, the FMC’s colossal mistake is ever more frustrating for the responsible businesses, residents and workers who are sick and tired of these classic Bush Administration delays. The Road is hopeful, to say the least, that Tuesday brings a new day.
