CAFTA Comes Up Before Congress
NAFTA's "Ugly Stepsister on Steroids" goes to Committee on April 13th
Wa****ngton, DC -- The biggest U.S. trade agreement in a decade goes to the
Senate Finance Committee Wednesday, while the House Ways and Means
Committee
will consider the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) one week
from today. Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) has publicly stated that he
expects
to have a floor vote in May.
In response, a broad and diverse coalition has emerged across Wisconsin
united against CAFTA, with opponents that include farmers,
environmentalists, labor workers, conservative business owners, teachers,
local officials, peace activists and the religious community. "Our
member****p has doubled in the past month," said Andy Gussert, Director of
the state's Fair Trade Coalition.
The coalition has joined a national effort to contact members of Congress
on
April 13th, the date of the first CAFTA hearing. "My job in Wisconsin is
easier than other states," said Gussert. "Most of our delegation has
already voted against unfair trade agreements during the past two years."
Eight of ten Wisconsin federal officials recently opposed the Australian
free trade agreement that would define powdered milk outside of dairy
products, allowing Aussies to flood U.S. markets.
Senator Russ Feingold highlighted unfair trade agreements as a central
theme
in his recent landslide U.S Senate victory. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner
(R-WI) Voted NO on granting most favored nation status to China in 2000,
NO
on the Australia agreement, and in favor of withdrawing from the WTO.
Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) - a sup****ter of past free trade agreements --
has already come out opposing CAFTA.
This struggle to stop CAFTA is also a referendum on the 10-year old North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has failed to deliver on the
many promises made by politicians one decade ago. More jobs are being
outsourced, companies are being offshored, immigration is up, family
farmers
are hurting, and the Mexican worker now makes less than he did ten years
ago.
"Ben Franklin said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over
and over and expecting different results," said Gussert. "If we continue
with CAFTA, we will have the same results of increased offshoring and
outsourcing that was created by NAFTA."
Because of "fast track," if a committee decides to send the trade pact to
the floor, they can only vote yes or no and it must be done within 60
days.
"They haven't pulled the trigger because they don't want the embarrassment
of losing," said Lori Wallach, a former trade lawyer who is director of
Public Citizen Global Trade Watch. "There's never been a situation where
an
agreement has sat around this long."
For CAFTA opponents, victory will not likely come in a congressional
defeat
of the treaty. Instead, Bush will not formally submit the treaty for
ratification because he realizes it doesn't have the votes.
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Background: Wisconsin Delegation Voting Records on Trade
Most of our Wisconsin Delegation - both Republican and Democrat - have
taken
strong stands against free trade policies in the past. For example, eight
of ten federal officials opposed the recent Australian Trade Agreement,
with
only Congressmen Ryan and Petri sup****ting it.
Strong stands from Wisconsin Republican and Democrats:
a.. Senator Russ Feingold (D) - along with Representatives Baldwin (D)
and
Obey (D) -- consistently oppose unfair trade agreements. Feingold spent
millions on educating voters about trade as a central theme in his recent
landslide Senate victory. He has become a national leader on this issue.
a.. Congressman Mark Green (R) Voted NO on implementing the US-Singa****e
free trade agreement in 2003, and NO on the Australia Treaty in 2004.
Green
is currently fighting for fairness in the Laos agreement, and will likely
oppose the Thailand agreement.
a.. Congressman Ron Kind (D) Voted NO on 'Fast Track' in 1998, and has
come out early to oppose CAFTA as it is now drafted.
a.. Congressman Sensenbrenner (R) Voted NO on granting most favored
nation
status to China in 2000, No on Australia, and voted to withdraw from the
WTO.
a.. Senator Kohl (D) Voted NO on establi****ng a free trade agreement
between US & Singa****e in 2003, Voted NO on the agreement between the US
and
Chile, and voted NO on Australia.
a.. Governor Jim Doyle (D) removed Wisconsin from CAFTA Treaty, and
pulled
back Wisconsin calling centers that had been outsourced overseas.
In depth congressional voting records can be found at
http://www.wiscotrader.org/action.htm
Procedural Note: The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will be
the biggest free trade agreement Congress has considered in more than a
decade. The Bush Administration is ready to test whether they have enough
votes in Congress to pass CAFTA. This will be done through formal hearings
in the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.
Because of "fast track," if a committee decides to send the trade pact to
the floor, they can only vote yes or no and it must be done within 60
days.
_______________
Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition ~ 3129 Hermina Street Suite, Madison WI
53714
Tel 608.237.1659 ~ www.wiscotrader.org ~ email agussert@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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