Posted on 04/28/2002 6:34:46 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
CRAWFORD, Texas — With the Senate set to debate trade legislation in earnest, President Bush asked lawmakers again Saturday to give him broader powers in negotiating trade pacts. He said it would lift the entire economy.
Bush wants Congress to give him trade promotion authority, which would allow him to negotiate international trade pacts that Congress could approve or reject but could not change. That, he argues, would accelerate agreements by giving other countries more confidence that Congress wouldn't tinker with trade deals the administration negotiated.
Lawmakers have denied presidents that power since 1994, but they appear ready to go along this time, with several conditions. Most important, Democrats are insisting on extending a Trade Adjustment Assistance program that would include new and costly health care benefits along with retraining for workers displaced by imports.
They will begin considering legislation next week.
"I'm pleased that the United States Senate is set to begin an important debate on trade legislation that will help American workers and farmers and consumers," Bush said in his weekly radio address Saturday.
"I have traveled around the country and seen the value of trade, and foreign leaders have told me how trade will strengthen security and economic growth in our hemisphere."
Trade boosts productivity and creates higher-paying jobs, Bush said.
He called for expansion of the Andean Trade Act, which lowers tariffs for products from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, partly to create economic alternatives to cocaine production and drug trafficking.
On Thursday, the Senate began considering that bill, which will become the legislative vehicle for trade promotion authority next week.
"The Andean Trade Preference Act is a good example of how trade can also help increase the security of America," Bush said. "Over the past 10 years, this law has given the four Andean nations more access to our markets, which they report has created 140,000 jobs."
Bush was leaving his ranch Saturday night to attend, the wedding of his former personal assistant, Logan Walters, in Houston.
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If Bush faced “adjustment challenges”, Bush would be whistling a different tune.
"We are infinitely better off without treaties of commerce with any nation."
--Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1815.
http://www.gold-eagle.com/gold_digest_02/stott042902.html
What don't you understand about Jefferson's advice?
Depends on what you figure the meaning of WE is...
Most important, Democrats are insisting on extending a Trade Adjustment Assistance program that would include new and costly health care benefits along with retraining for workers displaced by imports.
At least this is a start...
Trade boosts productivity and creates higher-paying jobs, Bush said.
George forgot to mention that this applies only to the OTHER COUNTRIES involved...
"Over the past 10 years, this law has given the four Andean nations more access to our markets, which they report has created 140,000 jobs."
These nations do NOT sell us anything new...They sell us what we normally would make ourselves...This means Americans have LOST 140,000 jobs as a result of some of these wonderful trade agreements already...Thanks, but no thanks...
We have lost that many people from the tax base...George has instituted a Federal unemployment extension to pay these folks because they can't find work...How many ended up on welfare that you and I are now paying for??? If it takes the unions to keep jobs here, hoo-ray for unions...Obviously our elected representatives are doing nothing to protect Americans...
Whazza matta with yer thinkin? Whatcha thinkin of man....wanna get in trouble with the feds? < / sarcasm >
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