Dem Dorgan fighting to let "Fast Track" Trade Negotiation law expire

[LdyGuique]

Senator Byron Dorgan (D SD) has introduced a resolution to turn down the Administration's request to extend the so-called "Fast Track" trade negotiation law, which expires in 2007 -- but must be extended by July 2005. This law has been a disaster and with a Republican dominated committee, it's unlikely that the resolution will get out of committee. It should.

I've arranged some links in chronological order.

From 2001:

The Fast Track Trade Jihad
The Guardian (London)
Sunday, October 14, 2001

Inside Corporate America
by Greg Palast

After the attack on the World Trade Center, some enterprising hucksters here in New York tried to sell little bags of ashes to victims' families, supposedly of their missing kin.

The stomach-churning commercialization of mass murder didn't bottom out there. Barely had the towers hit the ground when U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick proclaimed the way to defeat Osama bin Laden was to grant George W. Bush extraordinary 'fast-track' trade treaty negotiating authority. Ambassador bin Zoellick, speaking from what looked like a cave on Capitol Hill, surrounded by unidentified Republicans, said Americans had to choose: stand up for free trade or for terrorism. Note: Argument sound familiar?

You'd think Democrats would blast Zoellick for this crude, heartless and somewhat oddball maneuver to jam through Bush's big business agenda while a nation mourned. But this week, war-spooked Democrats in Congress are expected to vote to revive the moribund trade legislation. 'Fast-track' gives Bush carte blanche authority to bargain a big expansion of the World Trade Organization's powers in anticipation of the WTO confab scheduled for Qatar in three weeks. 'Fast-track' also greases approval for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

Announcement of the Bush push for the trade bill was followed by a disturbing CNN broadcast of corporate lobbyists dancing in the streets and handing out sweets to children. Continue . . .

From the Public Citizen

Fast Track

"Recently Passed Fast Track Includes Unprecedented Provisions to Constrain Negotiators' Capacity to Make Concessions on Agriculture" - memo by Lori Wallach

"Fast Track" is a procedure through which Congress gives the president authority to negotiate trade agreements and provides special rules for considering those agreements. Fast Track transfers constitutionally-mandated powers of Congress to the Executive Branch.

Fast Track legislation has not required the president to include enforceable protections for the environment and workers' rights in our trade agreements, lacks adequate procedures for consultation with Congress and the public, harms independent farmers and limits democratic debate about trade policy.

The Bush Administration hopes to use Fast Track to speed up negotiations on an expansion of NAFTA to the rest of the Western Hemisphere through CAFTA and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

Dorgan seeks vote on Bush trade authority

WASHINGTON -- A Senate Democrat is making a longshot attempt to take away from President Bush the broad trade negotiating authority that Congress gave him three years ago.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said Congress made a mistake in 2002 when it narrowly passed the "fast track" or trade promotion authority act that gives the president the power to negotiate trade agreements that Congress must approve or disapprove but cannot amend.

Late Wednesday Dorgan introduced a resolution to turn down the president's request to extend that authority. Continued . . .

Lou Dobbs Interview with Dorgan today

Senate Finance Committee Members