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Re: Senate committee approves repeal of national speed limit



In article <1995May12.100711.1@eos.bentley.edu>,
 <VIEIRA_D@eos.bentley.edu> wrote:
>In article <3or5i4$k05@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>, jfc@mit.edu (John Carr) writes:

>> The full Senate, during debate on this bill, may consider
>> repealing the federal seat belt requirement.

>Thanks for the update.  But what federal seat belt requirement are 
>you referring to?

States which do not require seat belt use lose part of their federal aid.
Massachusetts last year became the last state to cave in to federal
pressure; the bill was passed over Governor Weld's veto and a referendum
to repeal the seat belt law failed by (I think) 47-53%.  A similar
referendum had succeeded in repealing a 1986 seat belt law.

The 21 year old drinking age is also a federal requirement enforced by
the threat of whitholding highway funds.  Before the late 1980s the
drinking age in many states was 18-20; the federal requirement was
announced around 1983 and took effect around 1987.

-- 
    John Carr (jfc@mit.edu)


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