Page 20 - ATR 5 2014 web

Spotlight on arkansas

A high-profile U.S. Senate race and why it matters to trucking

As control of Congress seems on the ally yield is debatable. It would be a
by steve brawner verge of change, the spotlight is on key large symbolic victory for the GOP
Contributing Writer races to see what the future might hold and result in new committee chair-
for future trucking policies. manships. However, neither party
Two years after being ignored dur- In case your television dial has is expected to have a 60 member
ing the presidential election campaign, been stuck on PBS this past year-and- majority, which is needed to end the
Arkansas has been ground zero during a-half, the Arkansas Senate race pits ever-present threat of a filibuster. So
the 2014 U.S. Senate race. That’s what the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Mark regardless, a bi-partisan agenda will be
happens when your state helps deter- Pryor, against first-term U.S. Rep. Tom required to move anything forward in
mine the fate of the world – or at least Cotton, the Republican who currently 2015.
which political party controls the U.S. represents Arkansas’ 4th District. In recent remarks, Chris Spear,
Senate. The race has national implications, Vice President of the American
Protecting the collective interests which is why it’s been such a focus Trucking Associations, told trucking
of the trucking industry and infra- of both Democrats and Republicans. executives, “Procedurally speaking, a
structure hinges on past and ongoing Republicans already control the House political change in the Senate won’t
policies that establish hours-of-service of Representatives and almost certainly have a tremendous impact on big ticket
rules and long-term highway fund- will continue to do so after the elec- issues like the highway bill, largely
ing. The congressmen and women who tion. If they win the Senate, they will because the Senate will remain a work-
shape that legislation are essential to technically control Congress. ing majority, not a voting majority.”
maintaining the health of the industry. What that control would actu-

20 aRkansas tRuCking RepoRt | issue 5 2014