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.
No it doesn't.
Now comes your 20 paragraph convuluted explanation as rebuttal.
ROTFLMAO...
Are you talking about the underground economy for drugs, stolen vehicles, fraudulent ID's?.......all of which are costings honest taxpayers billions in $ that could be much better spent on building a future for their own children?
Pssst....here's a secret on those unemployment figures.....they don't count those who've stopped looking for a job and have exhausted unemployment benefits so the numbers are much higher than the massaged figures we see from the fedgov.
Exactly.
The final nadir.................
No more Vitamins or health food stores
Irradiated food that is genetically engineered, grown in human fecal matter, and sprayed with pesticides at least 30 times, from countries that will not be marked on your food.
More manufacturing jobs (Alcoa & Auto Manufacturers have already moved to Centrl America) moving South. Pay is $.30 an hour... look foward to your children making this pay scale.
Illegal aliens will flood over our borders.. When NAFTA was passed the Mexican got permission to come over the border.. when CAFTA is passed 6 countries will have permission to send their people over the border... all this while we have "TERRORISM"??? We are asked to give up all our freedoms while Bush and congress invite the terrorists to dinner. (give me a break)
If you have not called your representative... TOLL FREE #s to REACH CAPITAL SWITCHBOARD:
866-340-9281, 866-340-9279, 877-762-8762
I'm GOP. I sent lots of money to the Senate, Congressional, and Presidential races. I do campaigning for them.
I've told them....no more until things are done differently.
Don't tell me or anyone else on this board who disagrees with what is going on with this Administration and Congress that we aren't Republicans. We are more Republicans than those currently sitting in session.
I am completely disgusted with all of them.
NOTE: The SENATE in June voted to pass CAFTA. This final vote tonight will determine CAFTA's destiny.
#126 - Capitol Switchboard.
=========================
866-340-9281, 866-340-9279, 877-762-8762
Agri is almost 100% behind CAFTA. Bucks. Big ones.
What a misguided opinion.
Protectionism doesn't work...how many ways do you need to hear this.
Have you lived in the United States most of your adult life?
Did NAFTA work?
Besides helping arm our enemies, give away our enormous technological edge, denude the nation of many strategic industries, and undermine laws concerning environment & health, no they did not.
I'm calling and letting them know how good CAFTA is.
Quit your bellyaching.
President Bush is holding an emergency meeting today
Really? Who is reporting this?
They have much to gain from both.
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