07/14/09

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Officials from the United States and Canada
say the American northern border policy shaped by concerns about
terrorism and Mexican border issues is having a negative impact on
the Pacific Northwest.

The critical comments emerged during an annual meeting of
lawmakers, researchers and policy experts from around the region
and Canada Monday.

One Idaho lawmaker, Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, says
designing northern border policy based on what's being down along
the Mexican border is wrong because the two borders share very
different problems.

Others say policies to tighten northern border security have led
to a significant decline in traffic between the U.S and Canada.

Border policy is just one issue being considered in Boise this
week at the annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Economic
Region.

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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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