WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN) today vowed to fight the Clinton administration's proposed border crossing fee.
"This fee makes no sense to me," Peterson said. "Many people live in Minnesota and work in Canada, or vice versa. Many people from Minnesota go to Canada to fish and hunt, or shop. And Canadians come to Minnesota to hunt and fish and shop. In fact, in 1993 more than $100 million was spent in Minnesota by Canadians. This proposed fee will only hurt business for both sides.
"Also, if the fee really was meant to improve immigration control along the U.S. borders, why not focus on the areas where there are problems," Peterson said. "This proposed fee of $1.50 per pedestrian and $3.00 per car is ridiculous when it comes to the Northern border and I intend to work to have it taken out of the budget.
"I just feel like this proposal will do nothing but restrict movement between the U.S. and Canada, especially since Canada has said it would retaliate with the same type of measure if we approve this proposal," Peterson said. "We don't need to do anything to strain our relations with any country, and especially not Canada since we have always had a particularly good relationship.
The proposed border crossing fee is part of President Clinton's 1996 budget he released earlier this week.