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.

[My GOP]

At the point, we're just have to agree to disagree. We're from different regions which have different needs and being frank, I care more about my conservative region than your liberal bastion. Have a good one. Here's some reading material you might find useful. Later.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-7_27_05_PB.html

[1rudeboy]

We're from different regions which have different needs and being frank, I care more about my conservative region than your liberal bastion.

And the ironic thing is that you truly belong here and I truly belong there, if you understood political science. Funny how that works.

[My GOP]

I'm a proud Pat Buchanan conservative.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Once again the 'leadership'harms the American people. I have always liked the quote: "In declining states the leadership intuitively choses the most harmful course of action."- A Great Historian 1888( Also Edward Gibbon, though I can't refind the exact citation to The Decline and Fall)

[Toddsterpatriot]

I'm a proud Pat Buchanan conservative.

That explains your economic ignorance.

[investigateworld]

"When "big lenders" have to mark up their goods and credit card and other interest rates to offset losses from bankruptcy filers, that means AMERICANS like you and me pay more for goods and services."

Actually, the gap of what the banks pay for their money, versus what they charge for interest on credit cards has never been higher. (I'm not positively, absolutely 100% certain, so I'm pinging a financial guy)
But the reality is the lending institutions lowered their standards then went crying to Washington to ensure their profits. So what we saw is the perfect illustration of what was described as "Washington Ability" in Atlas Shrugged.
(But be weary weary quite here, I'm baiting a trwap)

[My GOP]

You're always wanting sources. Read his article I linked up. Its a good source for how CAFTA will harm us. This time, its for real. Later, no more arguing. I tried to say "lets agree to disagree" earlier but unfortunately you have no class and want to call me names.

[1rudeboy]

Ronald Reagan for me.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Actually, the gap of what the banks pay for their money, versus what they charge for interest on credit cards has never been higher. (I'm not positively, absolutely 100% certain, so I'm pinging a financial guy)

Not sure, the gap may be a record. You realize that a higher default rate would tend to lead to a higher rate charged on credit cards?

But the reality is the lending institutions lowered their standards then went crying to Washington to ensure their profits.

Yeah, asking the government to help enforce a contract is a bad thing. If credit card companies tightened their standards Jesse Jackson would be on TV talking about how the credit card companies were disenfranchising the African-American community.

[Toddsterpatriot]

You made a claim "The majority of NC's economy relies on manufactoring". Please provide a source that backs you up.

and want to call me names.

Back up your claim and I'll apologize.

[Toddsterpatriot]

The majority of NC's economy relies on manufactoring

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Data extracted on: July 29, 2005 (9:07:21 PM)

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Series Id:  ENU37000105101 State:      North Carolina Area:       North Carolina -- Statewide Industry:   Goods-Producing Owner:      Private Size:       All establishment sizes Type:       All Employees
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2001	994583	991060	988719	987016	981514	984574	970675	966135	958201	945130	931329	922669	968467
2002	902291	903093	903254	903893	906393	906965	903447	904039	898573	892322	883909	877117	898775
2003	856219	851210	853182	852521	854101	855836	847046	846079	843533	840801	835457	831792	847315
2004	813430(P)	812864(P)	820599(P)	829819(P)	836624(P)	844865(P)	845876(P)	843922(P)	843221(P)	840592(P)	837047(P)	835368(P)	833686(P)
P : Preliminary.

 

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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Postal Square Building 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE Washington, DC 20212-0001

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833,686 manufacturing jobs.

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Data extracted on: July 29, 2005 (9:07:56 PM)

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Series Id:  ENU3700010510 State:      North Carolina Area:       North Carolina -- Statewide Industry:   Total, all industries Owner:      Private Size:       All establishment sizes Type:       All Employees
Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2001	3193130	3193732	3209643	3216167	3224256	3245627	3208035	3208551	3182764	3158020	3143032	3134911	3193156
2002	3073223	3084770	3108719	3128342	3151525	3170095	3155778	3168056	3150337	3136589	3133236	3130925	3132633
2003	3042522	3040154	3060829	3080516	3104776	3123448	3106258	3120053	3109047	3108018	3110334	3114514	3093372
2004	3038336(P)	3043622(P)	3077898(P)	3115193(P)	3147181(P)	3174596(P)	3178831(P)	3187106(P)	3174281(P)	3174663(P)	3179509(P)	3187451(P)	3139889(P)
P : Preliminary.

 

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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Postal Square Building 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE Washington, DC 20212-0001

Phone: (202) 691-5200 Fax-on-demand: (202) 691-6325 Data questions: blsdata_staff@bls.gov Technical (web) questions: webmaster@bls.gov Other comments: feedback@bls.gov

3,139,889 total private sector jobs. Looks like manufacturing is only 26.6% of total private sector jobs. Not looking good for your claim. But I'm open to your sources.

[hedgetrimmer]

I guess all those candy manufacturers who moved to Mexico for cheaper sugar are in for it:



Police officers guard the main door of the agriculture ministry as sugarcane growers protest in Mexico City, Wendesday July 27, 2005. Growers from most of Mexico's 15 sugar-producing states, backed by two powerful labor unions, demanded that Fox sign a bil that guarantees continued upfront payments for cane from sugar-mill owners. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)



A Mexican farmer throws sugarcane towards the entrance of the agriculture ministry after a march through Mexico City's main streets Wendesday July 27, 2005. Growers from most of Mexico's 15 sugar-producing states, backed by two powerful labor unions, demanded that Fox sign a bil that guarantees continued upfront payments for cane from sugar-mill owners. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)



Two Mexican sugar cane growers hold up their machetes during a march through Mexico City July 27, 2005. The march is the first of a series of actions planned to pressure President Vicente Fox not to veto a law designed to protect prices. REUTERS/Henry Romero



A Mexican sugar cane grower brandishes his machete during a march through Mexico City July 27, 2005. The march is the first of a series of actions planned to pressure President Vicente Fox not to veto a law designed to protect prices. REUTERS/Henry Romero Reuters - Jul 27 11:49 AM



Thousands of sugar cane growers marched through Mexico City July 27, 2005. The march is the first of a series of actions planned to pressure President Vicente Fox not to veto a law designed to protect prices. REUTERS/Henry Romero

[My GOP]

You said, in response to me saying I was a Pat Buchanan conservative, "That explains your economic ignorance". Thus you basically called me ignorant. I don't have any sources on NC at the moment just say I live here and I know what's going on. I don't have to have a source to know what's going on. I memorized all the presidents when I was 8. When I proudly showed off my skill at school, my friends and teachers didn't ask for a source. I can debate with accurate facts from the knowledge in my head. My memory component of my IQ is 131. I remember alot.

[1rudeboy]

I've never seen so many Buchanan conservatives.

[1rudeboy]

I can debate with accurate facts from the knowledge in my head.

Not on this website.

[hedgetrimmer]

Not on this website

Oh, I forgot. You own this website. Thanks for reminding us all. Did you buy it with the money you saved from your Pell grant?

[My GOP]

Actually, I just debate with accurate facts from the top of my head......like they do in presidential debates. Anyways, I just can't understand why you can't muster enough class to say "we'll have to agree to disagree. Have a good one and later" like I did.

[My GOP]

Not on this website

Oh, I forgot. You own this website. Thanks for reminding us all. Did you buy it with the money you saved from your Pell grant?


I never said I owned the website. I don't understand why you would say that anyways. It doesn't make any sense. You certainly don't own it. Yes, I did get a Pell grant. They're wonderful things.

[My GOP]

Sorry, hedge, thought that comment was from 1rudeboy. Misread there. Yes, I agree, he is one rude person.

[hedgetrimmer]

I was responding to 1rudeboy.