Free-trade plan with Colombia likely to cause stir

[Joanne98]

Source: Houston Chronicle

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration appears likely to force a vote in Congress this year over the Colombia free-trade agreement, a risky move in a presidential election year with the economy slowing down and voters souring on global trade.

People inside and outside the administration expect the deal to be submitted to Congress as early as this week, setting in motion a "fast track" timetable that will require votes by September — just weeks before Election Day. A political fight is assured. The only question is, how bruising will it become?

President Bush has defended what he views as the agreement's economic and national security benefits to the United States. Its approval, he has told audiences outside the capital, would support President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia, Washington's staunchest ally in South America and a counterweight to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

Business interests including the Greater Houston Partnership also are pressing for the agreement because it would eliminate Colombia's high tariffs on U.S.-made products.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5679366.html

[Lasher]

1. Just how is Junior going to 'force' a vote in Congress?

From the article linked in the OP:

Under the current rules for "fast track" trade legislation, the House must vote within 60 days on the accord without offering amendments once it is submitted by the president. The Senate must vote in 90 days.

The final vote would come in September if the deal is sent to Congress this week and both chambers take the maximum number of days.

In 2002 the GOP lapdog Congress approved 5 years of fast track authority for Junior to enter into free trade agreements. Using this new authority, the administration negotiated and approved free trade pacts with 10 other countries:

• Singapore, 2004
• Chile, 2004
• Australia, 2005
• Morocco, 2006
• El Salvador, 2006
• Nicaragua, 2006
• Honduras, 2006
• Guatemala, 2006
• Bahrain, 2006
• Dominican Republic, 2007

Despite pressure from the Bush administration, Congress refused to extend presidential fast-track trade authority after it expired on July 1, 2007. A pact negotiated by Bush with Peru was passed by Congress in late 2007. Junior signed it in December. Chafing at having lost fast-track authority, Bush has repeatedly urged Congress to pass three pending pacts with Panama, Colombia and South Korea. Both Hillary and Obama oppose these 3 agreements.

The article cites fast track rules that have expired.

[ck4829]

2. Where exactly in the Constitution does it say that the Executive can manipulate the Legislative?

Must have been some part I never read.

[Earth_First]

3. You mean the free trade agreement that Clinton's chief campaign strategist is lobbying for?

Meet the new boss... same as, well...you finish it.

on edit: spelling ("i" before "e" except after 'c')

[Just-plain-Kathy]

5. BINGO!!..Bush = Clinton = McCain corporate America will win if they get rid of Obama. n/t

[OhioChick]

4. People had better wake up to this endless BS. n/t

[robcon]

6. Who's afraid of Columbia?

Why is this a bold move? What moron would resist having a free trade agreement with Columbia?