Bush Handed Stinging Defeat--FTA Fast Track Dead

WASHINGTON -- Democrats in the House handed the White House a stinging defeat Thursday over a free trade agreement with Colombia, rejecting President Bush's bid to force a vote on the deal before the end of the year.

A rule change lifted the requirement, known as ''fast track,'' that would have forced Congress to vote on the deal within 90 legislative calendar days. In a mostly partisan vote, the rule change was approved 224-195. Only 10 Democrats joined 185 Republicans in voting against the change.

The move throws the Colombia free trade agreement into a state of uncertainty. Democrats demanded the administration provide more generous assistance to U.S. workers impacted by free trade before reconsidering the pact. The White House, just before the vote, urged lawmakers to reconsider and warned a rejection would finish the Colombia free trade agreement.

''We do think that if they take this vote today and they pass it, that they are effectively killing the deal,'' White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

Democrats said they were looking for the House to recover its standing as the gatekeeper of trade deals and that the administration had long ignored Democratic demands to provide more assistance to U.S. workers affected by free trade.

Objections over human rights abuses in Colombia and especially concerns over the killings of union members in the long-running internal conflict in Colombia was brought up during the debate on the rule change less than bread-and-butter economic issues.

'*********'This isn't about ending anything,'' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. ``It's about having a timetable that respects the concerns, the aspirations, the challenges faced by the American people. We are the people's House, their timetable should be our timetable.''****************************************

******Pelosi said the vote should not be ''misconstrued'' as a vote against Colombia. She said she valued the relationship and had ''respect'' for the leadership of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who has tirelessly lobbied for the agreement. She said she conveyed this to Colombia's ambassador to Washington, Carolina Barco.********

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_dade/story/490804.html

By miamimike on Apr 10, 2008, 13:55 in Friendly Talkzone.