May 12, 2005
LET'S SEE REPUBLICANS BUCK BUSINESS:
Trade Pact on Slippery Slope: Bush will welcome the leaders of the six nations in the Central American Free Trade Agreement, a treaty that is facing trouble in Congress. (Edwin Chen, May 12, 2005, LA Times)
President Bush will pursue his top trade initiative today as he welcomes six Latin American leaders to the White House, but the trade agreement Bush seeks faces serious trouble in Congress and could be defeated by his fellow Republicans.With showdown votes just weeks away, the Central American Free Trade Agreement still lacks majority support in the Senate and the House, with a near-solid phalanx of Democrats lined up in opposition and key Republicans in open revolt.
The battle over CAFTA, as the agreement is known, illustrates the crosscurrents that swirl through Congress whenever a major trade issue surfaces, as local political imperatives often trump party loyalty. The trade controversy also underscores the pitfalls of Bush's strategy of relying on his slim majorities in Congress to enact a Republican agenda.
You've gotta be kidding--Bill Clinton only got the two trade treaties that were the signal achievements of his presidency by relying on the Republican minority in Congress. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 12, 2005 12:02 AM
Bush has been able to get through a bunch of free trade deals. Why this big problem with this one?
Agree with OJ's point. The GOP has been much more receptive on free trade deals. The article even notes solid Dem opposition. So blaming Bush and the GOP for lack of free trade deals is ridiculous.
Posted by: AWW at May 12, 2005 6:52 AMIt includes a miniscule increase in the sugar import quota from Costa Rica, and that's causing opposition from the sugar industry. That's one reason costing some Republican support.
Reason two is that the Democrats are looking for excuses to vote against anything.
Posted by: John Thacker at May 12, 2005 10:03 AMTom DeLay will deliver the House. Will the Senate come along?
Posted by: kevin whited at May 12, 2005 10:46 AMAmericans pay three to four times the world price for sugar. The President should put this on the line directly to the American consumer in a national address supporting CAFTA. He could name names among members of Congress who specifically support this fleecing of America through the sugar subsidy. He could even discuss the negative health effects it has, like the use of high fructose corn syrup which is essentially liquid death.
State it specifically. 'Senator X got $100,000 from the Fanjul Brothers Sugar Company and in return he is costing the average American $100/yr and increasing the health risk to America's children. Senator X is willing to kill American children so he can get a few extra bucks from the Fanjuls. Ask yourself if such a man should be in the Senate and whether the Senate should treat his desires with any deference or attention.'
Posted by: bart at May 12, 2005 11:04 AMSounds like Father Coughlin has been writing his speeches. Mmm, that's good vitriol!
Posted by: Governor Breck at May 12, 2005 4:44 PM