Fast Track Fight, cont.

[MDOLAN <mdolan@citizen.org>]

  >>                   Clinton Seeks Free Trade Authority
  >>
  >> (September 16, 8:00 pm)
  >>
  >> WASHINGTON (AP) - Plunging into a difficult fight, President Clinton
  >> was confronted with a string of Democratic complaints Tuesday about
  >> legislation he wants to promote future trade deals. Organized labor
  >> joined in the attack with a costly ad campaign.
  >>
  >> Republican response to the legislation was more favorable.
  >>
  >> Congressional aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said several
  >> House Democrats used a closed-door meeting with Clinton to detail
  >> their unhappiness with the measure, a case made forcefully afterwards
  >> by the party's leader, Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri.
  >>
  >> "With the president's bill we are compromising the basic goals of
  >> growth, opportunity, the dignity of work, environmental quality and
  >> democracy," Gephardt said at a news conference. "This fast track would
  >> put us on the wrong track."
  >>
  >> In brief remarks before departing the White House, Clinton said 12
  >> million jobs are supported by exports. "America must chose whether to
  >> compete or retreat," he said. "I believe that the only way we can
  >> continue to grow and create good jobs in the future is to embrace
  >> global growth and expand American exports."
  >>
  >> The legislation would give Clinton the ability to negotiate
  >> international trade accords subject to a "yes-or-no" vote in Congress,
  >> and without possibility of amendment - a procedure known as
  >> "fast-track." Clinton and other presidents have had such authority
  >> over the years, but it has lapsed.
  >>
  >> In a concession to majority Republicans, the administration's proposal
  >> does not contain the provisions many Democrats had sought to bar other
  >> countries from exploiting their workers or sacrificing environmental
  >> protection to gain advantage over American firms.
  >>
  >> Instead, Clinton pledged to use his executive authority to negotiate
  >> side agreements covering labor and the environment - as he did in the
  >> 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico.
  >>
  >> Still, given the splits within the two parties, the prospect was for a
  >> struggle as difficult as the one before the enactment of NAFTA four
  >> years ago.
  >>
  >> "It will be a tough job in getting the votes," House Majority Leader
  >> Dick Armey, R-Texas, told reporters during the day, stressing his
  >> insistence that Clinton submit a bill without the labor provisions
  >> sought by Democrats. "The president will have to participate in that
  >> very fully, as we will on our side of the aisle." He suggested Clinton
  >> will have to round up more than 50 Democratic votes if the measure is
  >> to pass.
  >>
  >> Republicans reacted cautiously to the details of the legislation
  >> released at the White House. "We appear to be off to a good
  >> constructive start," said Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, chairman of the
  >> House Ways and Means Committee.
  >>
  >> Sen. William Roth, R-Del., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,
  >> said Clinton's legislation "provides a reasonable place to start" in
  >> drafting a bill that can gain bipartisan support. He also expressed
  >> reservations about the labor provisions outlined by Clinton, but did
  >> not elaborate.
  >>
  >> The AFL-CIO announced it had begun airing television and radio
  >> commercials attacking the legislation as granting "special powers to
  >> rush through flawed trade deals like NAFTA."
  >>
  >> The commercials will run in the districts of 13 lawmakers of both
  >> parties who are undecided, as well as statewide in California on
  >> radio. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said the price tag was $1
  >> million - and more would be spent as the vote nears.
  >>
  >> Lining up Democratic votes was clearly what Clinton had in mind as he
  >> and Vice President Al Gore went to the Capitol to meet with House
  >> Democrats.
  >>
  >> It shaped up as a tough sell, though.
  >>
  >> In addition to Gephardt, a likely challenger to Gore for the
  >> Democratic presidential nomination in 2000, Democratic Whip David
  >> Bonior of Michigan attacked the legislation.
  >>
  >> Democratic sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said several
  >> lawmakers told Clinton of their unhappiness with the legislation. One,
  >> Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan, said later he had asked Clinton "why
  >> don't we tackle directly" the issue of competition against low-wage
  >> jobs, rather than taking such appeals to the World Trade Organization.
  >>
  >> Another, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, complained about the White House's
  >> response to a constituent of hers who lost her job as a result of
  >> NAFTA. She said she had told Clinton: "If this is how the
  >> administration handles people in our country ..., how can I trust you
  >> to negotiate an agreement."
  >>
  >> One Democratic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
  >> Clinton appeared angered at Kaptur's remarks, and replied that he
  >> should be judged on how well he handles the economy and other issues
  >> rather than on the White House's written response to one of her
  >> constituents.
  >>
  >> As for Senate Democrats, Clinton dispatched a group of cabinet-level
  >> officials to begin building support.
  >>
  >> Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota told reporters
  >> afterward that numerous lawmakers are uncommitted. "Obviously, there
  >> is a good deal of difference of opinion" on the issue, he added.
  >>
  >> He indicated the fate of the legislation might hinge on the precise
  >> nature of an accompanying document in which Clinton sets out his
  >> intentions with regard to labor, the environment, agriculture and
  >> other areas.
  >>
  >> Beyond that, several Democrats, speaking on condition of anonymity,
  >> noted that many lawmakers had cast a vote in favor of free trade when
  >> China's trading status was considered earlier this year and predicted
  >> they would be reluctant to do so again against the wishes of their
  >> political allies in labor.
  >>
  >> In addition, Republican sources, speaking on condition of anonymity,
  >> say the GOP leadership has informed the White House it wants
  >> concessions on an unrelated issue regarding the 2000 Census in
  >> exchange for helping pass the trade legislation.
  >>
  >> Republicans want a prohibition on the use of statistical sampling in
  >> conducting the Census, fearing that its use will lead to a greater
  >> count of minorities and other inner-city residents and challenge GOP
  >> control over the House when reapportionment is completed early in the
  >> next decade.
  >>
  >>
  ===== Comments by MDOLAN@CITIZEN (MDOLAN) at 9/17/97 8:59 am