U.S. House and Senate conferees have yet to reach an agreement on a final version of the six-year highway bill that will go to the president for his signature and enactment into law, so it is very important you take the time to contact your elected officials and discuss the interstate tolling issue.

Lawmakers should be hearing from truckers (and every highway user) about the Senate s proposal to allow for widespread tolling on existing interstate highways.

We have a major fight on our hands. If Congress can give states the ability through tolls to raise however much money they want to spend however they want, states will be less likely to complain about not receiving enough in highway funds.

This scheme allows lawmakers in the nation's capitol and states, too, to say they will not raise your fuel taxes even though tolling interstate highways is a double or even triple tax on truckers that must use those roads.

Every state is supporting this change in federal law as well as others with an economic interest in road building and toll systems. Supporters also include the House and Senate leadership as well as President Bush.

Those opposing this provision in the law include OOIDA, most other highway-user groups and (according to surveys) about two-thirds of the general population. This is an important issue now because it will be decided when the highway bill is finalized.

In addition, there is certainly no reason to believe toll authorities would be responsible or reasonable in amounts charged for tolls. Are they now?

Let your elected officials hear from you.

Once you have corresponded with your lawmakers, whether it is by phone, fax, letter or e-mail, please contact OOIDA about the responses received. If the response is in written form, please fax it to OOIDA, with attention to Angel at (816) 427-4468. You can also e-mail the response to

angel_burnell@ooida.com. If you are unable to use fax or e-mail, please call Angel at 1-800-444-5791. She will document his or her stance on the issue.

For information on how to contact your senators and representatives, or if you are not sure who your lawmakers are, phone the OOIDA Membership Department, they will look up the information for you. The toll-free number is 1-800-444-5791. You can also visit www.congress.org, www.house.gov or www.senate.gov. The U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 will connect you to your elected officials office (just provide them with your zip code).

If you are home, try looking in the blue government pages in your local phone book or call local information.

In addition, below are the names of senators and representatives on the conference committee who have already voted in favor of widespread tolls on the interstates or have indicated they plan to vote for these tolls in the highway bill.

If one or more of your elected officials is on this list, please make every effort to contact them.