Colombia eyes U.S. "lame duck" vote on trade deal

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Colombia eyes U.S. "lame duck" vote on trade deal
Tue Sep 9, 2008 3:40pm EDT
By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Colombian officials see little chance the U.S. Congress will approve a free trade pact before the November 4 election but have high hopes lawmakers will pass it by the end of year.

~snip~
But Democratic leaders in Congress say their plan is to finish up whatever work there is to do in the next several weeks and not return until early 2009, when a newly elected president and lawmakers will take office.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi also has said she will not allow a vote on the Colombia agreement until Congress and the White House have agreed on a second economic stimulus package and on legislation to reform federal "trade adjustment assistance" for workers who have lost their jobs because of imports or factories moving overseas.

~snip~
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, reflecting concerns raised by U.S. labor groups, has said Congress should not vote on the pact until Colombia makes more progress in reducing violence against trade unionists.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0931274520080909?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=401