Thread: House GOP Leaders May Bring CAFTA To Floor Next Week

National Journal's CongressDailyAM
Issue date: Wednesday, June 22, 2005

TRADE
House GOP Leaders May Bring CAFTA To Floor Next Week

House Republican leaders are maneuvering to bring the Central America Free Trade Agreement to the floor next week -- a move that could expedite the trade agreement, which was not expected on the floor until July.

"It doesn't help us the longer we wait," a GOP leadership aide said Tuesday, adding that Majority Whip Blunt and Chief Deputy Majority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., will intensify their efforts to gauge support for the trade pact and employ their outside coalitions to probe whether or not they have the votes.

"If we think we have the votes, the bill will be on the floor," said another GOP leadership aide. "If things look good, we'll do it."
But other aides cautioned that at this point, striking a deal with members with sugar interests is probably a necessary prerequisite to a successful House vote next week.

Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., said he is slated to meet with Agriculture Secretary Johanns to continue talks begun last week.

But on the Senate side, a key participant in those talks downplayed the chances for a deal in the near term.

"I am hopeful, but not optimistic," said Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. "We're still in the discussion stage."

Senate Finance Chairman Grassley said discussions were ongoing with the White House on the timing of a vote.

"When it comes up, we've got to have the votes to pass it," he said. He did not rule out the possibility of a deal to appease sugar interests. "If neither side is too picky there will be a deal," Grassley said.

Congressional aides said it is also still possible that the Senate could take up CAFTA and vote on it next week.

Passage in the Senate is virtually guaranteed, but the question is whether a close Senate vote might embolden CAFTA opponents in the House.

Under the scenario outlined by House leadership aides, the White House would have to send up final language by Friday, allowing Ways and Means Chairman Thomas to mark up the bill Monday to have it on the floor by Thursday.

Once a bill is reported out of committee, House rules require a holding period of three legislative days before a floor vote.
"That decision has not been made yet. We'll bring it when it's ready," Cantor said following the weekly GOP leadership meeting Tuesday.
The White House is expected to send up language this week regardless of the timing.

However, if GOP leaders are not confident of their vote count, the bill will not be marked up next week. Committee action triggers a 15-legislative-day clock for a floor vote.

If the 15-day period expires any member can request a vote, and Democrats -- who largely oppose the bill -- would move to bring it to the floor to try to defeat it.

"It's very difficult to do because of the time frame," Blunt said Tuesday when asked about a vote next week. "[But] there's no reason not to do it earlier if time allows."

Politically, a CAFTA vote before the July 4th recess could stymie efforts by outside groups and labor unions to pressure members on both sides of the aisle to vote against the bill.

"That's a consideration," acknowledged the GOP leadership aide. "But it's not the main reason."

CAFTA was originally scheduled for a vote before the Memorial Day recess.

"We want to get this thing off the floor," the aide said.

By Susan Davis and Martin Vaughan

ROY BLUNT IS FROM MY HOMESTATE OF MISSOURI!!

He is a Traitor to support CAFTA!!

Sorry Bluntie Boy....but you are on the OBL-END AMERICA list now...WE've got your Pink-Slip Printed and Your Heretic Stake Ready!!

YOU SHAME ME AND ALL MISSOURIANS!!

OK Y'ALL..IT'S TIME TO WRITE YOUR SENATOR AND TELL HIM/HER THAT YOU OPPOSE CAFTA. TELL THEM THAT NEITHER YOU NOR YOUR FRIENDS, APPROXIMATELY 10 MILLION FRIENDS IN YOUR PAC AND SISTER PACS WILL NEVER AGAIN VOTE REPUBLICAN IF THIS AGREEMENT PASSES...THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AND I'M DOING IT THIS MORNING. WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE OPPOSE IN NUMBERS!! BIG NUMBERS!!

RR

This is the email that I sent to my reps...I wanted them to know..we mean business and we're in numbers to be reckoned with...

RR


Good Morning,
I'm a constituent of yours who has voted Republican for forty years. I could hardly wait for the Republicans to gain power in the House and Senate. I danced in glee when the Dems voted in NAFTA...I knew they had just cut their throats because the people were against NAFTA.

I'm against CAFTA. I'm against CAFTA for many reasons. The most important is that it does very little if anything for the US...and puts miles of rules and regs on businesses. This agreement is good for very few and bad for many millions.

I would hate to see you vote for CAFTA...I and about 10 million of my friends are watching this vote very closely. We are members of political pacs that stand against CAFTA...Americans who feel betrayed by this administration and particularly President Bush.

You will do what you think is right, of course. But do remember, you represent the AMERICAN people and not corporations.

Thank you,

This one is on the Home Page http://www.alipac.us/article-491--0-0.html

GOOD CHOICE redgirl1!!

AMERICA, WAKE UP!!

GET ACTIVE!!

IT'S NOW OR NEVER!!

CALL YOUR REPS AND SENS AND TELL THEM, "NO CAFTA" under any circumstance.

FOLKS:

THE MAIN REASON TO OPPOSE CAFTA is:

The clause that allows for "free-flow of people, labor and goods into the United States".

This is Open Borders Legislation.

A flood of poor people into the United States that our economy CAN NOT and WILL NEVER be able to sustain successfully.