WP: CAFTA in Peril on Capitol Hill

[kskiska]

One Business Leader Gives Lawmakers an Ultimatum

With the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in serious trouble, a prominent business leader recently laid it on the line: Business groups are prepared to cut off campaign contributions to House members who oppose the pact.

"If you are going to vote against it, it's going to cost you," Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, warned recently during a meeting on Capitol Hill of leaders of a 500-plus business-trade association coalition.

President Bush has declared ratification of CAFTA his top trade priority of the year. The pact would create a NAFTA-like free-trade zone between the United States and five Central American countries plus the Caribbean's Dominican Republic.

But both sides agree that without a major push from the White House and the GOP leadership, CAFTA is likely to become the first major trade deal to be defeated in more than 40 years and a major embarrassment for the administration.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/11/AR2005061100575.html

[eleny]

1. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a pack of terrorists!

[Nite Owl]

2. So if they don't vote for it

business groups won't donate and if they do their constituents will be upset and not vote for them. This is a good deal for the dems, the repukes are in a real bind. Hope that count will stand.

[MisterP]

4. other than those spewing the self-proclaimed "pro-business" line

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. It is time to erode them.

Unions, step up to the plate.

[Elwood P Dowd]

5. If anyone in Washington has told more lies than Tom Donohue

I would like to know who it is.

[burrowowl]

6. Down with CAFTA!

Bu$hie in a corner?

[Supersedeas]

13. LIBBY LIBBY LIBBY Dole is the only NC US Congressional official

actively supporting it.

Odd who completely independent of the Bush Administration she can be?

[zapp]

7. Fascism is:

Corporations working in concert with Government.

[arikara]

10. This is more like corporations giving the orders

and running the show.

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. Not more like it...

It is EXACTLY what is going on.

[salin]

17. remember the gop cry (late 80s early 90s) about dems and "special

interest groups" to whom the pander... time to turn this on the GOP.

I can see the ad now:

Dobson threats per pulling support if the Congress doesn't do their bidding for Judges... followed by the Senate Nuke threat (which the public was against)

Cut to This and other orders given by him... followed by congressional action (esp if CAFTA does get passed)...

Followed by... Are they representing special interest groups or are the representing We the People?

[Doremus]

8. If it ever comes to a vote ...

why would we expect the Dems to be any more unified than they were for say the bankruptcy bill?

It's corporate cash on the line -- the slime will be flowing.

[Robbien]

9. I believe this article is in error. CAFTA has a good chance at passing

The New Dems put out a position paper saying they supported CAFTA. The sole industry still opposing it is the sugar industry. All others have been bought off. So with industry and farms supporting this, of course the GOP is supporting it.

The only people not voting for it are the people not in the lobbyist's pockets and those are rare animals in DC.

[Miss Chybil]

12. Isn't this like extortion, or something? nt

[Roland99]

14. Pretty much. But, I say to the Chamber: F-OFF!

Let them pull their money. Corporate lobbyists are the biggest problem with our gov't today!

[cornermouse]

15. Chamber of Commerce

If I remember correctly, these are the people who have agreed to help the republicans target the democratic state attorney generals because they believe the republican attorney generals are more friendly to them and their interests and less willing to protect us "little guy" consumers.

They appear to been overwhelmed with greed too.

[MaineDem]

16. My Congressman, Mike Michaud, is dead-set against it

And Mike worked in a paper mill for years as a union member. I don't think he'll feel intimidated by the Chamber of Commerce.

[sadiesworld]

18. .

:kick: