Rep. Cartwright’s comments serve as a middle finger to truckers

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a politician to take a potshot at professional truck drivers. In this instance, it was Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., who took a swing at the men and women who have been delivering essential supplies to the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The congressman’s remarks came during a House Appropriations Committee hearing in July.

The committee convened to discuss the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill, during which time Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, also of Pennsylvania, offered an amendment that would have prevented new tolls on any roads or bridges in the state of Pennsylvania that receive federal funds, including Interstate 80.

When it was Cartwright’s turn to speak, he didn’t just voice his opposition. He took off in an entirely different direction.

“So listen, what I’m telling you, the majority of traffic on I-80 is out-of-state tractor-trailers just passing through not contributing anything to Pennsylvania except exhaust fumes, cracks in our pavement and the occasional catastrophic truck crash,” Cartwright said.

Let me repeat a few of those words.

“Not contributing anything to Pennsylvania.”

Rep. Cartwright isn’t just singling out truckers. He’s slapping them in the face.

For those who have followed Cartwright’s career, the comments weren’t a surprise. He has, in the past, sponsored efforts to raise minimum insurance requirements.

He’s also what some might call a walking conflict of interest.

An attorney by trade, Cartwright is a former partner at Munley, Munley and Cartwright P.C., which made who-knows-how-much money seeking out clients who wanted to sue trucking companies.

Some of the websites controlled by the firm included Pennsylvania Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyers, Pennsylvania Truck Accident Lawyers, and Tractor Trailer Attorneys.

Cartwright is no longer contributing directly to the Munley law firm but continues to receive income from the firm through profit sharing.

So, Cartwright is no stranger to being on this side of trucking issues.

Shortly after the lawmaker’s comments, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association issued a call to action to its 6,900 Pennsylvania members. The Association asked truckers in Pennsylvania to call Cartwright’s office and make him aware how much trucks contribute to the state.

Truck drivers are essential. That has always been the case, but that fact should be even clearer after the past couple of years. Sadly, a member of Congress still doesn’t get it.

So the calls to Cartwright’s office may not have changed his mind, but I bet that more than a few truck drivers gave him a piece of theirs. LL