Dems protest as House begins considering FTA passage

[chill_wind]

Dems protest as House begins considering FTA passage
Pete Kasperowicz - 10/11/11 06:06 PM ET

House Democrats on Tuesday evening argued against passage of three free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, as House Republicans began a process for passing these trade deals, which should be concluded Wednesday.

Democrats mostly took exception to the FTA with Colombia, a country that Democrats say still suffers from excessive violence against unionized workers and union leaders.

"Nearly everyone I talk to… believes that the United States stands for human rights, that we stand for justice," Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said of the Colombia deal. "And I'd like to believe that's always true, but not if we pass this FTA."

(snip)

Democrat arguments against the other agreements are somewhat undercut by Democrat support for those agreements. For example, House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) is a co-sponsor of the Korea agreement, after he pushed for improvements to that agreement's auto provision.

more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/186843-dems-protest-as-house-begins-considering-fta-passage


Facts re: Columbia:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x619157#top

[YellowRubberDuckie]

1. The United States hasn't stood for that stuff in a really long time.

It doesn't surprise me we'll pass them, and our economy will get even shittier.
Free trade has done nothing but kill jobs.

[chill_wind]

2. They will pass, according to this:

"Arguments from Democrats are not expected to be an obstacle to passage in both the House and Senate, as passage of the FTAs is tied to a fourth bill that would reauthorize duty-free access for scores of countries, and reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. Democrats support both of those reauthorizations, and several are expected to support the FTAs on Wednesday.

Passage of all four bills was worked out in an agreement with the White House. The House is expected to approve the rule for all four bills Tuesday night."

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. I never doubted it.

I was just saying. :shrug:

[chill_wind]

4. I know.

Damn, though!! :-(