HR 3045 CAFTA
It would appear that Tom DeLay’s effort got the desired results last night. He said he wanted Republican in office who would support the goals of president Bush and all of them from Texas jumped onboard CAFTA immediately.
For those who may not have watched the proceedings last night it was typical Washington politics.
First off they voted to change the rules and allow only one hour of debate on each side. Normally a Trade Agreement gets ten hours on each side. Texas Congressmen were given an extraordinary number of speakers on both sides of the issue. One Democrat stated that a Republican leader had said “We are going to twist arms until they are broken into a thousand pieces.”
The president made a rare appearance to the House Chambers yesterday to push for Aye votes. Vice President Cheney and Whip Tom DeLay spent the entire day twisting arms in one on one conversations with Republicans.
Some of the points touted by proponents were that CAFTA would create thousands of jobs in the United States as our exports to these five Central American Countries would increase drastically. The opposition reported that the GNP of each of these countries was about $80 million, about the same as Tampa Florida and surrounding areas. The average worker makes about $800 per year. How many American products can they afford.
Another point was that the environment would have protections not now in effect in these countries. The rebuttal was that International Corporations in these countries could sue if new environmental rules cut into their profits. The usual Pros and Cons were bantered back and forth and what it finally boiled down to was that these countries are impoverished and it is the responsibility of the United States to improve their economy by sharing technology and funding the necessary improvements to make them self sustaining. However opponents called it a handout to the wealthy for the wealthy as it has no improvement for workers income or working conditions.
There are rules but if a country does nor enforce these very minimal rules they can be fined but that fine goes to the GOVERNMENT THAT DOES NOT ENFORCE THE RULES. That should teach them a lesson.
The vote was a real nail biter especially for the Republican leadership. The 15 minute vote was extended to 1 hour and 32 minutes as undecided Republicans were squeezed to vote yes. Finally with 8 Republicans not yet voting it came down to their votes would decide the fate of the Bill. With two still remaining to vote the Chair quickly gaveled the vote to an end as they realized those two votes would probably result in a tie, killing the Bill. HR 3045 has gone to the president for his signature. Of course it will be signed and we can expect FTAA to follow. IT will take a while to determine the full extent of good or damage this 3000 page Bill will bring.
The final vote was 217 – 215, 26 Republicans crossed Party lines to vote no, 15 Democrats crossed Party lines to vote yes. Two Republicans did not vote as the Chair gaveled the vote to an end.
