Posted on 07/27/2005 10:42:51 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush urged Republican hold outs on Wednesday to back a controversial free trade agreement with Central America, and party leaders predicted he would win but only after a tough fight for votes.
"The president reminded us that we come here not only to represent our district but to represent the nation," House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay told reporters after a Capitol Hill meeting between Bush and House Republicans, many of whom have opposed it on the grounds that it will hurt industries in their regions. "It will be a tough vote but we'll pass CAFTA tonight," the Texas Republican said. "We will honor our commitments to the south, we will protect our national security and will do it all with very few Democrats."
The long-awaited vote would end months of uncertainty about the fate of the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, which lowers trade barriers between the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
The White House has a harder time rounding up votes for CAFTA than for any other recent trade pact because of stiff opposition from many Republicans in textile and sugar-producing states who fear it will cause job losses.
In addition, most Democrats oppose CAFTA on the grounds that its labor provisions are not tough enough for a region with a poor record on workers' rights. The White House says the labor provisions are stronger than any previous trade agreement and consistent with guidelines Congress set in 2002.
Bush appealed to House Republicans to put aside any "parochial interests" they might have about CAFTA and look at the broader benefits of the pact to the United States and the six other countries, DeLay said.
"It is good for our national security in supporting these fledging democracies at our back door. It is good in our effort against illegal immigration. It is good for our economy," DeLay said.
DeLay said Republicans would gavel the CAFTA vote to a close "when we get 218," the number of votes needed for approval. Republican leaders have angered Democrats in the past by holding votes open until they finally pressure enough party members to vote the way the leadership wants.
CHINA TRADE VOTE
Several Republicans from the textile states of South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia are expected to support CAFTA after reaching a deal with Republican leaders and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman to address specific concerns.
However, many Republicans from North Carolina -- which has experienced heavy textile job losses -- have remained opposed.
The Bush administration also has made promises aimed at reducing sugar industry opposition to the pact, but many Republicans from sugar-producing states such as Louisiana, Florida, Montana and Idaho continue to have concerns.
The vote on CAFTA will be proceeded by a vote on Republican bill aimed at addressing a number of trade issues with China. House leaders expect to pick up the support of some Republicans in industrial states like Pennsylvania with that bill.
Only six Democrats have publicly announced their support for CAFTA. Portman told Reuters he remained hopeful that many more would vote for it in the end, but declined to give any estimate.
Portman said he had just come from a meeting with three undecided Democrats and they had refused to tell him on they planned to vote on CAFTA.
Yes... But there are some men and women out there who have enough values and convictions to resist the forces you mention above. One district over from me is Republican Rep Ron Paul. He regularly votes against his own party's agenda when he thinks that agenda goes against The Constitution. He has been re-elected to office numerous times now. There are more Ron Paul's out there.
"My idea would be to try everything possible to stop domestic & foreign corporations as well as gov'ts. from being able to influence our reps with $, trips, presents, etc. The only way the American public can ever get true representation again is to do whatever it takes to remove these lobbysists from buying off those that we elected to represent us. "
I agree... But I want the same results through "education" as opposed to the recently passed Campaign Finance Laws. I just started a small retail business a little over a year ago. If my wildest dreams of success with this business were to come true, I want to be able to donate as much of my money as possible to help elect candidates like Ron Paul. I don't want any more laws restricting my donations. Again... "Education" is the key. People need to be aware of what companies are supporting which candidates (most often I find these larger companies are donating to "both" major party's candidates) and then figure out just what exactly these companies are trying to gain. In my company's case it would simply be "freedom" as that which our Constitution is supposed to guarantee for US citizens.
I asked all three of them to reply to me and tell me how they intend to vote. So far... no reply.
Sometimes it doesn't hurt to step outside of the crowd to see where they're taking you.
Is that why you're trying so hard to change it, out of gratitude?
Here's a hint - when a guest in someone else's house its best not to wag your finger at your host.
Keep working on it.
Never, never, never give up.
--W. Churchill
Just for fun, maybe you can tell everyone how your representative is treating you. It doesn't even matter what party they are from, because once elected, they are supposed to represent you. Maybe we can keep a list of responses so we can refer to it next election.
The American people should know this about their representatives, don't you think?
Some people here keep talking free trades agreements as if it has destroyed the United States. However the facts remains that in the age of free trade agreements in the last 20 years, the US economy has more than doubled in size, our standard of living are better than any country in the world, and our unemployment rate is very low. It seems facts do not matter for you and some other freepers but you just use emotions and rhetoric that will lead to nothing but to absolute defeat and misery.
How much did they pay you for that commercial?
What impact will CAFTA have on your native country?
You mention all these CONgressmen and women but where are they when it comes to taking a public stance regarding the direction this country is heading? The only one I see with any stones beside Ron Paul is Tancredo and you see what the attack dogs are trying to do to him as well as the fact that Rove et al have made it known that he's persona non grata at the WH because he had the courage to step up and publicly criticize our march to national suicide via illegal immigration. I'm with you in the hopes we have more reps out there that'll stand up but I won't hold my breath.
As far as the lobbying goes I believe it's not us small business guys who will ever have much clout with the reps.....these big corps. and foreign gov't.s are hiring former DC insiders left and right togain access that we'll never see in our lifetime........that's why the lobbying has got to be cut dramtically.
Thanks but no thanks.
Odd as it may seem to you, the US economy had all these same characteristics before the big trade agreements of the past thirty years.
At last count, it was about a dozen. Some of these traitors are more active than others, but they all sing the same pro-illegal alien song.
A lot of money, you got me on this one.
The TC's are outscreeching nancy pelosi and the democrats.
Oh I forgot, they claim they aren't democrats.
True conservatives defend the Constitution.
CAFTA undermines it.
Where do you stand?
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