Thread: Bush Campaigns for CAFTA-DR Bill As Pact Faces Uncertain

http://www.bna.com/


No. 140
Friday July 22, 2005 Page A-17
ISSN 1523-567X
Regulation & Law

International Trade
Bush Campaigns for CAFTA-DR Bill As Pact Faces Uncertain Fate in House
With a House vote on the proposed U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) likely the week of July 25 and its passage still uncertain, President Bush July 21 stumped for the pact, saying that the CAFTA-DR implementing legislation is pro-jobs, pro-growth, and pro-democracy.

Bush made his pitch against the backdrop of fierce Democratic opposition in the House for CAFTA-DR and a number of defections in the GOP ranks, mostly from textile and sugar-producing districts. CAFTA-DR supporters are trying to cobble together a majority by addressing a number of concerns of wavering members, including on textile provisions.

"This bill is more than a trade bill; this bill is a commitment of freedom-loving nations to advance peace and prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere. And that's important for members of Congress to understand," Bush said in a speech before the Hispanic Alliance for Free Trade.


Republican Opposition

Meanwhile, an aide for Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.)--a key GOP opponent of the pact--told BNA July 21 that Jones estimates that 28 Republican members will oppose it.

An aide for Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)--who is leading Democratic opposition to the agreement--said that there are 195 "solid" Democratic votes against the agreement. If the estimate of 223 votes against the pact is accurate, that would spell trouble for the controversial pact which needs 218 votes to pass if all members vote.

The Senate passed the CAFTA-DR--which joins the United States and the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua in a free trade area--on June 30 on a 54-45 vote with 11 Democrats backing it and 12 Republicans opposing it.


Undecideds Targeted

CAFTA-DR supporters and opponents are concentrating on a pool of undecided members who hold the key to whether the agreement will pass.
Calman Cohen, president of the Emergency Committee for American Trade, told BNA July 21 that there are "quite a few" undecided members on both sides of the aisle. The large number of undecided members, which Cohen declined to quantify, is a good sign, he said. "We believe we're really making headway," he said. "We've been reaching out to them multiple times."

In an effort to snag votes for CAFTA-DR, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) made a number of commitments relating to the CAFTA-DR's textile provisions in a July 18 letter to Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.) but an Inglis aide told BNA July 21 that Inglis was still undecided.

Comments by Thomas July 20, possibly in jest, suggested a link between a "no" vote on CAFTA and decreased funds for highway projects (see related report in this section).

The commitments, some of which will require legislation, were aimed at snagging the votes of, in addition to Inglis, Reps. J. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.), Michael Rogers (R-Ala.), Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), and Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.). Since that time, Bachus has declared his support for CAFTA-DR. The Inglis aide told BNA that he needs assurances from the leadership that the legislation will be moved.


Opponents Also Targeted

CAFTA-DR opponents are also ramping up their advocacy efforts. The AFL-CIO July 20 began running TV ads in seven states urging the public to contact their member of Congress to vote "no" on CAFTA-DR. The ads refer to the North American Free Trade Agreement, charging that it cost American jobs. "Now Congress is considering another bad deal--CAFTA--which will have the same, disastrous effect, driving more of our jobs to six more low-wage countries," the announcer says in the 30 second ads. The areas targeted are Chicago, Ill.; Huntsville, Ala.; Philadelphia, Pa.; El Mira and Rochester, N.Y.; Columbus and Zanesville, Ohio; Corpus Christi and Harlingen, Texas; and Grand Rapids and Lansing, Mich.

Another CAFTA-DR opponent told BNA that the Citizens Trade Campaign is running radio ads against the pact in Pennsylvania, Utah, and New Jersey, noting that there are some half a dozen undecided GOP members in Pennsylvania. Grassroots efforts are focused on California, Illinois, Florida, Alabama, and Michigan, he said.

Currently, most exports to the United States from the CAFTA-DR countries enter duty-free but U.S. exports to the region face hefty tariffs.

"By eliminating barriers to their exports from our country, [CAFTA-DR] would help keep the U.S. economy growing. In other words, this is a jobs program. This will help jobs," the president said.


By Rossella Brevetti

Ain't this the same crap we heard about NAFTA... its pro jobs. Whatever few jobs do move to Mexico will be replaced by better paying , hi tech jobs.
Wasn't that the promise? NATFA passed, the textile and other mangerfactoring jobs went south... but wheres the better paying hi-tech jobs. Making 5.25 as a stocker for Cosco isn't high paying nor hi-tech.

Now we're hearing the same about CAFTA. North Carolina lost 250,000 jobs after NAFTA. We can't afford another trade agreement! Guilford Mills, gone. Burlinton Mills , gone. Their headqarters just got blown up to make way for a strip mall. Pilltex, gone. Feildcrest Cannon ,Gone! American Tobacco, gone.
Yeah Fed-Ex and Dell are coming... Fed-ex should employ 600 part timers and Dell said they should employ about 1000 part time temps.

I hear that sucking sound again!

Yes it is ArthurC...

I am pasting this post here as well.

They expect a vote on CAFTA next week possibly Thursday from what I heard on the radio today. They are waiting until they think they have enough votes to vote on it. We have to stay on top of our legislators to make sure they vote no. Many of them are up for re-election in 2006 so it may help to remind them of that. Here is a link that will list all of the reps in your state. Click on your state and start calling all of the reps. California, Illinois and Texas are some big states to go after.
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Keep the calls going.