than your life . Below is a copy of an article from july 16th at expediters online . It tells us just how little a drivers life and safety is worth .

The Partnership to Save Highway Communities voiced its support of the current ban on the commercialization of rest areas along Interstates to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works this week.

As part of the upcoming extension of the current highway reauthorization law, the committee will be looking at allowing state governments to compete with private businesses along Interstates.

The group, which includes truckstop association NATSO and a number of food franchises and fuel organizations, wrote a letter to Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.), stating that the competition would risk thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues.

"In these difficult economic times, such a policy change could further damage the economies of small cities and towns across the country that rely on Interstate traffic to sustain their local communities," the partnership wrote. "Allowing state-run rest areas to compete ... on an unfair playing field will remove a valuable component to the economic development of the counties and towns."

States such as Virginia, New Hampshire and Vermont have closed rest stops recently, and some state officials believe commercializing rest areas would provide revenues needed to save these facilities. "The Partnership to Save Highway Communities believes this is a short-sighted approach that ultimately will destroy thousands of businesses located off the Interstate exit ramps," the partnership said.

While more than 60,000 businesses operate along the nation's Interstates as a result of the current ban, commercializing state facilities would cut business to the private entities in half, studies showed. The partnership says these businesses provide a large percentage of sales tax and property tax revenues that go to public schools and local police and fire departments in rural areas.

For more information, visit www.jobsnextexit.com .

www.TruckingInfo.com

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just a bucket truck driver .member #10829-D

Thanks for sharing this article.
Some of the "Groups" would be Slain Trucker Wife Hope Rivenburg who gave birth to Twins just two weeks after her Husband was shot for $7 that was sitting on his dashboard.
Hope & Jason Rivenburg already had now 2 Year old Josh.
Jason's double Milk delivery was first to Virginia where the hostile enviroment toward truckers may have prompted him to move on according to his family.
Instead he chose an abandoned gas station in SC.
The family started a petition which has now becomme a Bill Called "Jason's Law" for Safe Trucker Parking in the form of a Trust Fund.
That means some people are getting any money out of the deal & they don't want to come ot & say it because what they are really saying is " Jepordize Safety by forcing tired truckers to drive or choose unsafe situations because they might park by my store and buy a donut"
Be aware that it has been "grassroots" only who have helped Hope Rivenburg & her Family get "Jason's Law" introduced to help the entire trucking community.
They need lots of help for ordinary folks to call your represetitives and ask them to Support HR 2156 & S 971
Any State Rep can co-sponser this Bill.
Hope needs your help.
She will be coming to Dallas the the GATS show to do a petition drive & raise awarness because this Bill is getting pushed aside by BIG $$ that want it to disappear.
The Public in a Bi- Partisan way agree that this long neglected problem needs to be addessed but having then means to get the word out for one small broken family with 3 little ones is a challenge.
Private Donations alone have made it possible for Hope to go to the Dallas Tuck Show to meet the Truckers she wants to help so this does not happen to anothe Trucker family.
Come meet her at the show Agust 20-22
The family website has the CSPAN Video of Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) introducing the "Jason's Law" plus text of bill, petition & updates.
It's part of the Transportation Bill & your phone call are needed to help this bill have a fighting chance against "the big boys"

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Desiree Member #10546-D

I ran out of space (tee hee)
Here is the family website
http://www.jhlivenburg.com

Please don't take for ganted the just because some big organizations have publically said they support the bill they actally do.

This bill is a no-brainer when infrastructure is a hot topic.

Google "Transportation Bill" & see all the other crap that people are trying to get funded & they have the advertising budget & the lobby power to do it ladies.

Let's help this widow out, she's got her hands full & she's appreciates our help.
Thanks

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Desiree Member #10546-D