Bipartisan group of lawmakers urge Obama to back Colombia free trade pact

The Hill ^ | June 5, 2010 | Russell Berman

[jazusamo]

A bipartisan group of House members is urging President Barack Obama to support approval of the U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement.

In a letter (pdf) to the president this week, the group of 39 representatives said the pact would open a new market for American goods and help the administration accomplish its goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years. The letter pushed for the agreement, which was signed more than three years ago, to be approved before August, when Colombian President Alvaro Uribe leaves office.

The lawmakers also cited Colombia's status as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, saying the agreement would bolster the ties between the two nations.

“For the benefit of our economy and our national security, we urge you to resolve any outstanding obstacles to the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, submit the agreement to Congress, and support its prompt approval,” wrote the lawmakers, led by Reps. Albio Sires (D-N.J.) and David Dreier (R-Calif.). “We believe the implementing legislation would have strong, bipartisan support in Congress, and we stand with you to ensure its passage.”

Other congressmen signing the letter included Reps. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), Norm Dicks (D-Wa.) and Pete Sessions (R-Tex.).

The House letter comes after 15 Republican senators wrote to Obama earlier this week asking him to speed passage of trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama - all of which have been held over from the George W. Bush administration. Backers of the pacts have complained that Obama has not moved faster to implement them, despite his professed support for the accords.

Obama reiterated his support for the agreements in a recent speech to the Business Roundtable. Approval in Congress could be tricky in a weak economy, however, as lawmakers from industrial states have criticized trade agreements for sending U.S. jobs overseas.

[jazusamo]

I doubt Pelosi and Reid have changed their mind about this trade agreement or their hostility toward President Uribe. Also doubt that Obama is telling the truth when he says he supports this because of his ties with organized (thugs) labor.

Democrats cold-shoulder Colombian president

[Recovering_Democrat]

Bush wanted this a couple years ago. Watch Hussein back it and take credit.

Hussein is an ass.

[Pearls Before Swine]

O will check with Chavez and get back to us.

[jazusamo]

Yep, Pelosi Reid and the RATS treated President Uribe terribly as well as President Bush and completely shut this trade pact down. Zer0 is an ass but if he pushes for this his union buddies are going to go ballistic.

[MadAnthony1776]

The only way he’ll support it is with his boot at the throat of the Columbians.

[Popman]

No way Obama actually supports this agreement it is simply not in his character to diss his fellow marxist buddy Hugo