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.
How much longer before the elected Local and Federal governments no longer has a say about U.S. internal and external policy.
#16 - Hedgetrimmer writes:
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"I just got off the phone with Congressman Delays office. "
Very soon at this rate.
Graham has turned out to be nothing but trouble.
Trade between the rich and the poor can improve the quality of life of both.
Nothing... CAFTA will simply allow large American companies to close their factories here at home, layoff large numbers of American workers, build their factories down south, hire very cheap foreign labor, and then ship their goods back to America with free acces (thanks to CAFTA) to the American Market, creating a huge increase in profits... all at the expense of the American worker. Same thing happened with NAFTA and GATT... Same play book. Nothing new here.
Always... "Follow The Money"...
I'm running out of reasons to vote in November.
Anyone care to start a CAFTA HALL OF SHAME webpage?
Lets keep track of the first company that shuts its doors to relocate.
Lets keep track of the increases in illegal immigration from Central America and what they are costing American citizens in our freedoms as well as our pocketbooks.
Lets keep track of the Congressmen who sold us out and unelect them.
Thanks for the post. I just called Trent Franks office (AZ-R) urging a "No" vote - he's listed as Undecided. I asked the staff member if they were getting many calls and he said yes and that most were negative. Maybe he's just telling me that, but if not, it's a positive sign.
Just as NAFTA and its cheap American corn knocked the Mexican campesinos out of the market (guess where they're going?), CAFTA will unleash a new flood of equally desperate Central Americans.
During the El Salvadoe war when people were fleeing north, the Mexicans let them through with the proviso "Keep on going - America is that way". Here comes deja vu all over again.
You need to vote, but not for these people.
Your vote is how you protect your own liberty. Don't let them trick you into not using it.
Deja vu with deadly consequences. The MS-13 are moving operations north.
CAFTA will be the coffin used to bury the America that NAFTA poisoned.
Yeah, right.
Vote for the party of traitors or the party of stupid traitors.
Just called mine. And gave him a nice piece of my mind.
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