Taylor's failure to vote on CAFTA draws criticisms
http://www.the-dispatch.com
July 28. 2005 5:23PM
Taylor's failure to vote on CAFTA draws criticisms
The Associated Press
U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor's failure to register a vote during final approval of the Central American Free Trade Agreement brought criticism Thursday from a would-be opponent in next year's congressional elections.
Democrat Heath Shuler said Taylor "gave us his word that he would vote against CAFTA, and I don't understand why he did not." The trade deal passed by a margin of 217-215.
Leading up to the vote, the seven-term Republican from Brevard said he would vote no on the trade agreement.
"Charles Taylor had a tremendous opportunity last night to do some real good for the people of Western North Carolina by voting against CAFTA," Shuler said in a statement. "Instead, he made the decision to sit by and watch while Congress passed this legislation that will send thousands of Western North Carolina jobs out of the country."
Shuler, a native of western North Carolina and a former star quarterback at the University of Tennessee is seeking the Democratic nomination to oppose Taylor in 2006.
In a statement, Taylor said he tried to vote against the agreement but his vote wasn't recorded by the House computer.
"I am reinserting my 'No' vote in the record," Taylor said. "But even with my no vote reinserted, the bill still passed."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued a statement blasting Taylor and noting that the congressman was present for 11 other House votes Wednesday but missed the extra-long vote on CAFTA.
"With the opportunity to vote for an entire hour, as opposed to the usual 15 minutes, it would be nearly impossible for a member of the United States House of Representatives to be unable to record his vote, as Taylor claims," the statement said.
