House Passes Oman—Another Bad Trade Deal

by James Parks, Jul 20, 2006

The U.S. House of Representatives just passed another bad Bush administration trade deal, the Oman Free Trade Agreement (OFTA), by a 221–205 margin. Twenty-two Democrats voted for the treaty while 28 Republicans voted against it.

The Senate approved the deal last month by 60–34. The pact now goes to President George W. Bush for his signature.

A coalition that includes the AFL-CIO and more than 350 labor, religious, consumer, farm and environmental groups opposed the Bush administration-negotiated OFTA because it lacks strong and enforceable labor and environmental standards and likely will cost jobs in the United States and lower living standards for workers in Oman.

In a letter to Congress urging rejection of the trade deal, last month, the coalition wrote:

OFTA would expand the failed model of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). This model has accelerated job loss and lowered living standards in the United States while exacerbating poverty and social disparities in the developing nations with which we trade.

Speaking on the House floor, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) said “Republicans are dead-set on turning our port security over to foreign corporations.”

This Republican Congress is once again ignoring the overwhelming majority of Americans who are concerned about our border and port security. Instead, Republicans are listening only to well-connected business lobbyists who hope to turn this bill into profits for their shareholders.

As David Sirota noted yesterday on Daily Kos, the Oman deal permits foreign ownership of U.S. security assets, provisions that…

bought-off lawmakers are scrambling to hide and/or obscure.

It’s another bill Bush can’t wait to sign.

The 22 Democrats who voted for OFTA are: Brian Baird (Wash.), Melissa Bean (Ill.), Dan Boren (Okla.), Ed Case (Hawaii), Joseph Crowley (N.Y.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), Susan Davis (Calif.), Norman Dicks (Wash.), Chet Edwards (Texas), Bob Etheridge (N.C.), Jane Harman (Calif.), William Jefferson (La.), Rick Larsen (Wash.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), Dennis Moore (Kan.), James Moran (Va.), Ike Skelton (Mo.), Adam Smith (Wash.), Vic Snyder (Ariz.), John Tanner (Tenn.) and Ellen Tauscher (Calif.).

The 28 Republicans who voted against the treaty are: Robert Alderholt (Ala.), Howard Coble (N.C.), Nathan Deal (Calif.), Terry Everett (Ala.), Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Phil Gingrey (Ga.), Virgil Goode (Va.), Robin Hayes (N.C.), John Hostettler (Ind.), Walter Jones (N.C.), Steven LaTourette (Ohio), Frank LoBiondo (N.J.), Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.), John McHugh (N.Y.), Bob Ney (Ohio), Charles Norwood (Ga.), C.L. Otter (Idaho), Ron Paul (Texas), Michael Rogers (Ala.), Joe Schwarz (Mich.), Robert Simmons (Conn.), Christopher Smith (N.J.), John Sweeney (N.Y.), Thomas Tancredo (Colo.), Charles Taylor (N.C.), James Walsh (N.Y.) and Curt Weldon (Pa.).    

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (0)