EOBRs in Trouble?

Posted on June 6, 2012 
Filed Under HOURS OF SERVICE, POLITICS

I have been dutifully scouring the Internet for news on this highway bill, which is being debated in a House-Senate conference committee. To recap, the Senate version of the bill mandates EOBRs. Boo. The House version of the bill does not. Yea. Transportation funding expires on June 30, so either they pass this new highway bill which may or may not have the EOBR mandate by then, or they will have to pass another extension of the funding.

I have seen nothing in any news or statements by the politicians as to whether or not the EOBRs will be included in the final version of this bill. However, I did listen to House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s comments at a press conference last week. They did not mention the highway bill. They did, however, talk extensively about jobs, small business, and how regulations are crushing small business. In short, they spelled out one of the arguments as to why the EOBRs are bad, without mentioning the EOBRs.

Granted, this could be all rhetoric and posturing, and when the chips are down, they will go ahead and do the complete opposite of their rhetoric, and mandate the EOBRs. Nevertheless, I found it encouraging that they seemed to care about small business.

Now, just this week, apparently Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is upset because the House members are blocking a compromise. Anytime Harry Reid is upset, it is a good thing. House Majority Leader Cantor has signaled this will not be done by June 30. Could it be done later this year? Maybe.

At this point, I think it is more likely than not that the EOBR mandate will not be passed into law. The House GOP would be crazy to make a deal at this point unless it was completely on their terms. They are winning. They can sit there and demand their Keystone pipeline, or cuts in other areas to pay for the highway spending, or Nancy Pelosi’s parking space, and if they don’t get it, just say, “ok, see you at the polls in November”. This is most likely what they’re going to do….. and there will be no EOBR mandate. This time around.

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