The Hill: Rebuild infrastructure, but keep longer and heavier trucks off highways, says Sheriff

As a lifelong conservative Republican, I believe that free enterprise and fewer burdensome regulations enable American prosperity and economic growth.

As a retired United States Army General Officer, I value efficient logistics and productivity.

And in my role as chairman of the board of the American Security Council Foundation, I firmly believe that we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil and secure our future energy needs right here at home.

The proposal to adopt longer double-trailer trucks, though, undermines our basic values of developing sound public policy, ensuring public safety and wisely investing taxpayer dollars.

This proposal is little more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and does not take into account years of research that confirm bigger trucks mean more dangerous roads and more damaged infrastructure. Further, increases in the size or weight of trucks have always meant more trucks on our roads, not fewer.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/transportation/330723-rebuild-infrastructure-but-keep-longer-and-heavier-trucks