In Bush Win, House Narrowly Approves CAFTA

Associated Press ^ | July 27, 2005 | JIM ABRAMS

[RWR8189]

WASHINGTON - The House narrowly approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement early Thursday, a personal triumph for President Bush, who campaigned aggressively for the accord he said would foster prosperity and democracy in the hemisphere.

The 217-215 vote just after midnight adds six Latin American countries to the growing lists of nations with free trade agreements with the United States and averts what could have been a major political embarrassment for the Bush administration.

It was an uphill effort to win a majority, with Bush traveling to Capitol Hill earlier in the day to appeal to wavering Republicans to support a deal he said was critical to U.S. national security.

Lobbying continued right up to the vote, with Vice President Dick Cheney, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record) and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez tracking undecided lawmakers.

The United States signed the accord, known as CAFTA, a year ago with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and the Senate approved it last month. It now goes to the president for his signature.

To capture a majority, supporters had to overcome what some have called free trade fatigue, a growing sentiment that free trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada have contributed to a loss of well-paying American jobs and the soaring trade deficit.

Democrats, who were overwhelmingly against CAFTA, also argued that its labor rights provisions were weak and would result in exploitation of workers in Central America.

But supporters pointed out that CAFTA would over time eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers that impede U.S. sales to the region, correcting the current situation in which 80 percent of Central American goods enter the United States duty-free but Americans must pay heavy tariffs.

The agreement would also strengthen intellectual property protections and make it easier for Americans to invest in the region.

"This is a test of American leadership in a changing world," said Rep. Kevin Brady (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, a leading proponent of the agreement. "We cannot claim to be fighting for American jobs and yet turn our backs on 44 million new customers in Central America.

[endthematrix]

CAFTA does have plenty to do with immigration. The post in question I believe refered to Rep. Clay Shaw that said, “let us not tie the hands of those negotiating for the United States by prohibiting them from negotiating immigration provisions."

"Cross-Border Trade in Services”

http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/CAFTA/CAFTA-DR_Final_Texts/Section_Index.html

[nopardons]

All who are left here, as well as the Paulists.

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

Even if it's slightly better it's still in horrible shape. Bush does have the power to do a lot more. After 9/11 you would think we would have sealed our borders no matter what the cost. We spend billions on war for national security reasons and I believe securing our borders is just as important for this nation.

I get sick of Bush saying he's doing all he can to protect the nation from terrorist when he won't even guard our borders. How can you take him serious when it's common knowledge our borders are easily breached by illegals. Bush isn't making any real effort to stop illegal immigration. He's trying to ignore it until he's out of office.

[Malesherbes]

Free markets imply open borders. We now have an economic "nation" that covers the whole of North and Central America (plus with CAFTA the Dominican Republic.) Wages throughout will find some equilibrium level, and we can count on hearing more Spanush on our streets. There may or may not be economic advantages, but there will surely be social consequances.

[nopardons]

Okay retread how many times have you been banned and how many different nics have you had here before?

[Flux Capacitor]

----Yeah, yeah, yeah and the Masons run the world or is it the nonexistent ILLUMINATTI this week?----

This week they split up their duties. The Masons sent in pre-programmed pro-CAFTA androids in to seal the House vote while the Illuminati helped little old Mexican ladies across the Rio Grande. Bush the Overlord monitored the entire operation by zapping back and forth between the two spots via the top-secret teleporter technology given him by globalist space aliens who received Pentagon jobs in return for their implantation of radio transceivers into the brains of Tom Tancredo supporters.

-Dan

[FranklinsTower]

I always find the chicken littles squawking on trade deficits quite amusing. As of now, it is good for the US to have a trade deficit with these 2-3rd world countries trying to part of the global economic club.

First of all, it means that they are now making money instead of the US throwing "aid money" propping up failed regimes or policies. In order for them to grow they need to produce goods and services that make money -- which naturally means a trade surplus for them and a deficit for the US.

With they extra money they make and the growth they'll experience, eventually they are going to need infrastructure goods and services that we are the best at. Thus, the amount they buy from us will increase over time -- not a bad thing! The growth of buying from us can and will happen as we are in a trade deficit(s) with them. To that I say what is the big f'n deal?

Sure, some industries will suffer, but that is just the nature of life. Should have we forgone the automotive industry in order to protect buggy whip manufactures? Of course not. As with any bold change, one usually has to get rid of some of the old way in order to make room for the new way.

In this case, the new way is to provide a platform of economic democratization in our own vitally strategic back yard -- Central America. This is the larger picture big deal that trumps the chicken littles squawking about trade deficits 100s of times over! The truth is these chicken littles have a very short sighted and perhaps selfish view of history.

Anybody who has looked at the history of the '80 with an objective eye knows just how important the Central American region is to our security. If one is too lazy to look at history, well then have them play 4-5 games of Risk and they'll know how important that area is.

CAFTA is a historic achievement, paid for by plenty of sweat and blood over several decades. It may not be perfect, but as an American free trader I am damn proud we did the right thing tonight.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

THIS... is a Free Trade Republican:

I post his picture, for the benefit of the noisy, wilfully amnesiac few here who have (apparently) forgotten -- if, indeed, they ever truly "knew" in the first place -- what Reagan Republicanism was all about.

To those shrill, backwards and benighted few, falling into that unfortunate camp:

R-E-M-E-M-B-E-R.

[ran15]

The Dems were willing to sacrifice central America to the Chinese sphere, in order to hold onto a few union jobs that will soon be automated anyway.

[nopardons]

Economics is obviously not your strong suit and neither is history.

Unless what you wrote was sarcasm, it is so abject devoid of any logic, fact, and and sense, as to be laughable.

What causes depressions? DO YOU EVEN KNOW?

Are you aware that for the past 60+ years, American has NEVER had a panic or a depression, but that until WW II, America suffered through PANICS and DEPRESSIONS every few years; some of which were massive, for its entire history ?

[motzman]

LELAND: "No, no, I don't think that's going to, do it, uh. These reports you handed in. It's almost as if you have no business training at all.. I don't know what this is supposed to be!"



Next, we'll get to hear the protectionists' theories on open heart surgery and recent jet propulsion innovations.

[tomahawk]

I agree with you.

[NRA2BFree]

HA HA! How's it feel to be on the same losing side as Maxine Waters?

Feels pretty good. I never thought I'd see the day that Maxine Waters would be smarter than you. HA HA HA! ;o)

[FranklinsTower]

Part of the reason the dims are having a hissy fit over CAFTA, is that it further demonstrates the significantly weakened power of Unions.

Furthermore, their Castro communists comrades in that region stand a good chance of being swept into history's unmarked grave of discarded lies.

[patriciaruth]

I thought Nicolas Cage found the Masons' treasure and put them out of business.

Did I get that wrong?

[nopardons]

You have NO idea what a "police state" is and since you think that your vote, which I doubt you gave, to president Bush in '04 was wasted, go join the Dem party and DU. You'll be a whole lot happier in both places. Heck, your posts read like the garbage posted to DU already; you'll fit right in.

[patriciaruth]

The Dems have sold their souls to the World Socialist Workers Party. They are the ones who are bent on One World government.

[newzjunkey]

The freer the markets the freer the people!

Who's going to free US?

[newzjunkey]

They worship the business bottom line and don't really care about our greater national interests.

[newzjunkey]

You're in Illinois! Well then, it's no wonder you think NAFTA was a win.

*shakes head in disgust*