The Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition will rally CAFTA opponents outside the Minnesota office of Congressman Mark Kennedy, R-Minn., on Tuesday, July 12. The demonstration will start at 2 p.m. at 22 Wilson Ave. N.E., in St. Cloud.
The coalition is targeting Kennedy and other House members following the June 30 vote by the U.S. Senate to approve CAFTA.
"The fact that the administration has delayed the CAFTA over and over again is a testament to the incredible mobilizing that has taken place by activists against CAFTA," the coalition said. "But with enough Congress members being tight-lipped about their position, no one knows exactly what the outcome will be, and the fast-track time clock is ticking."
Under fast track rules, both houses of Congress must act within 90 days after the trade bill's introduction. The House is expected to take up the measure shortly after the Fourth of July recess.
One year ago the Bush administration signed the trade agreement with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic (which actually is in the Caribbean, not Central America). Ever since, the administration has lobbied Congress heavily to get the necessary votes for passage.
For more information
See the Workday Minnesota special section, Trade and jobs
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The Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition will rally CAFTA opponents outside the Minnesota office of Congressman Mark Kennedy, R-Minn., on Tuesday, July 12. The demonstration will start at 2 p.m. at 22 Wilson Ave. N.E., in St. Cloud.
The coalition is targeting Kennedy and other House members following the June 30 vote by the U.S. Senate to approve CAFTA.
“The fact that the administration has delayed the CAFTA over and over again is a testament to the incredible mobilizing that has taken place by activists against CAFTA,” the coalition said. “But with enough Congress members being tight-lipped about their position, no one knows exactly what the outcome will be, and the fast-track time clock is ticking.”
Under fast track rules, both houses of Congress must act within 90 days after the trade bill’s introduction. The House is expected to take up the measure shortly after the Fourth of July recess.
One year ago the Bush administration signed the trade agreement with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic (which actually is in the Caribbean, not Central America). Ever since, the administration has lobbied Congress heavily to get the necessary votes for passage.
For more information
See the Workday Minnesota special section, Trade and jobs