Illinois State Sen. Rachel Ventura put forward a bill that would take money away from owner-operators and freight carriers to pay for the state’s woeful road conditions. The lawmaker has a history of controversial moves and this, if pushed through the legislature, could cost Illinois dearly.
What Ventura may be failing to consider is that Rhode Island tried to discriminate against freight haulers by instituting a truck-only tolling system. Gantries were installed along I-95 and other major arteries where local and interstate traffic is among the heaviest.
Former Gov. Gina Raimondo’s program targeted out-of-state truckers by charging them higher overall rates than in-state companies. That scheme came crashing down when the American Trucking Associations (ATA) sued the state under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. After Raimondo went to Washington, D.C., to — ironically — serve as Commerce Secretary, the ATA beat the state in court. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee appealed the decision to the federal level, only to get slapped down once again in April.
“We told Rhode Island’s leaders from the start that their crazy scheme was not only discriminatory, but illegal,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear reportedly said. “We’re pleased the court agreed. To any state looking to target our industry, you better bring your A-game because we’re not rolling over.”
Fighting the ATA in court, and losing twice, cost Rhode Island taxpayers $9.3 million. The state also has ugly and useless gantries littering its highways.
Now comes Joliet, IL, Sen. Ventura, with yet another attempt to treat the truckers who deliver more than 70 percent of her constituents’ groceries, products, and materials unfairly. Her proposed legislation would task municipalities with charging fees on semi-trucks that run between $0.50 and $8 per axle. The bill indicates truckers leaving intermodal yards would be hit. More specifically, intermodal yards over 3,500 acres would be targeted. Interestingly, the CenterPoint Intermodal Center yard in Joliet fits that bill.
“We have the highest amount of truck traffic around any intermodal in the entire state,” Ventura reportedly said.
Early estimates indicate the tolls would siphon off $38 million annually from truck transportation outfits. If the measure reaches a floor vote, it will likely set off a firestorm. The ATA and other trucking advocacy groups are expected to bring pressure and lawsuits to bear.
This isn’t the first time Ventura has backed controversial bills. In February, she filed a bill that would make magic mushrooms legal.
Sources:
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/court-rules-against-truck-only-tolling-in-rhode-island
https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/magic-mushrooms-should-be-legal-il-treat-mental-health-ventura
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