Baucus rips Obama for not providing trade agreement timeline
By Erik Wasson - 01/26/11 03:19 PM ET
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), whose committee oversees trade agreements, on Wednesday ripped President Obama for failing to give a timeline for congressional approval of trade deals in his State of the Union address.
Baucus wanted the president to announce a schedule for submitting the stalled trade pacts with Colombia and Panama to Congress for approval.
“Our free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama were signed more than three and a half years ago, so it’s extremely disappointing the president did not lay out a timeline for submitting them to Congress,” Baucus said.
“The delay has been costly for our ranchers, farmers and businesses, who are losing business to competitors from countries that have negotiated their own trade agreements with these fast-growing markets. To help Americans export their goods and services and create jobs here at home, it is time to quickly resolve any outstanding issues and send these agreements to Congress as soon as possible,” he added.
In the State of the Union, Obama called for approval of the renegotiated deal with South Korea, but only said he is committed to improving the other two FTAs.
More:
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/1005-trade/140507-baucus-rips-obama-for-not-providing-trade-agreement-timelineBaucus needs to remember whose traditional ally the Democratic Party has been, throughout history.