"CAFTA Vote Switch an Issue for Democrats"

[GreenPartyVoter]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - For weeks, Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C., was colorfully adamant in his opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

"What does CAFTA sound like? NAFTA," Hayes declared. "It's not in the best interests of a core constituency I represent. Every time I drive through Kannapolis and I see those empty plants, I know there is no way I could vote for CAFTA."

But an hour into what is normally a 15-minute roll call - and still short the votes needed to avoid handing President Bush an embarrassing defeat - Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., told Hayes he could promise increased GOP attention to the challenges China poses to the domestic textile industry.

Hayes switched his vote, and the agreement passed 217-215.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20050729/D8BKU9580.html


"GOP Holdouts Made CAFTA Vote Dramatic"

WASHINGTON (AP) - A lot of effort went into passing a trade pact so small that the House Republicans' top vote counter compared it to "having a free trade agreement with New Jersey."

The Central American Free Trade Agreement squeaked to passage Thursday just after midnight with a 217-215 vote that took an hour, four times as long as usual. The Senate had passed it four weeks earlier, but passed it again Thursday night.

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican who wrangles votes for his party, said he had known it was going to be a tough fight. A number of the Republican rank-and-file had already announced their opposition.

President Bush had made a special trip to the Capitol to press wavering Republicans. Vice President Dick Cheney had "set up shop," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, R-Calif.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20050729/D8BKO3BO2.html

[ewagner]

1. Shakedown

When I was in legislative service, I knew of situations where reps would threaten to vote against party wishes or at least appear hesitant in order to extract promises, concessions, attention or even a little publicity out of the process. That's what I think went on here.........

[PATRICK]

5. The demands

of the local electorate, the good of the nation, the principles and people of the Party and the actual dispensation of the powerful. In having to choose among all these those who choose to slink to the table for scraps and fear the whip set their choice on the last.

He passed the litmus test but flunked the final. The person has made himself beholden only to power, not to his people or nation. His deal for textile workers at home is a sop and a temporary respite IF it is delivered which current experience also calls into doubt.

It might be a mere cover for hidden threats and blackmail. Sometimes it is not simply a pork bribe. They can do so much more and do it regularly.

The best we could hope for from this guy would as a sunshine Democrat- when they can actually deliver the pork for his coffers. We had too many of those already. Some switched parties to avoid embarassing moments like this.

[dweller]

2. more tidbits

At a closed-door meeting of House Republicans yesterday, Rep. Bill Thomas (Calif.) sidled up to the lectern and hinted that the leadership might
look more favorably on lawmakers' requests for highways and bridges if they vote for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, according to
three GOP witnesses.

"Just to let you know, we're having some problems with the highway bill. It probably won't be finished until after the CAFTA vote," the deadly
serious chairman of the Ways and Means Committee said to knowing laughter.

In the scope of trade deals, CAFTA is a minor economic matter, extending duty-free trading privileges to six Latin American countries whose
combined economies are smaller than the Czech Republic's. But as a political fight, the deal has snowballed into a major showdown ahead of
the final House vote next week.

"CAFTA has been given symbolic status by both sides that is well outside its true economic importance," said Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.), who
opposed the agreement in the Ways and Means Committee, then promised to support it next week after securing a promised vote on China
trade legislation. "But that does not mean it does not have enormous political significance," he said.

from 7/21

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/20/AR2005072002078_pf.html


dp

[bryant69]

3. I hope they remember Hayes political courage

come Election time.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Just Me]

4. They reject the notion that they are obliged to serve,...

,...the interests of the people in exchange for forcing the people into servitude for the politicos' interests. Disgusting.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Thaat infuriates me to no end.