SanJoaquinSooner
1/31/2008, 02:31 AM
Bush presses Congress to approve trade pacts
By Andy Furillo - [email protected]
Published 1:04 pm PST Wednesday, January 30, 2008
TORRANCE - President Bush used a tour of a successful Southern California helicopter manufacturing plant Wednesday to pressure Congress to approve three pending free trade agreements that he said would benefit the stumbling U.S. economy.
Accompanied by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bush said that companies such as Robinson Helicopter and its 1,200 employees figure to enjoy a significant boost in business if Washington lawmakers approve the proposed pacts with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.
With 70 percent of the company's business coming through overseas trade, including deals it has with Colombia, Bush said the pacts stand to improve the economic standing of Robinson's employees and other firms that export goods in the international market.
"They ought to have a sign walking in here saying, trade is not only good, it is great," Bush said, speaking in a hangar to an audience of more than 100 employees of the helicopter firm. "And we want the federal government to make it easier for us to sell products."
Also attending the president's talk today was U.S. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Marina Del Rey, whose district includes the Robinson plant in Torrance. Harman said she voted in favor of a free trade deal with Peru that was approved by Congress, but that she has not made up her mind on the Colombia pact. She cited concerns about the country's human rights and labor records, including allegations that members of the country's military have intimidated and murdered labor leaders.
"There seem to be two different set of facts," Harman told reporters after the president's speech, about Colombia's labor and human rights record. "I hope we can find some way in Congress to try and reconcile those facts. If we work off of one set of facts, we can make a more informed judgment."
By Andy Furillo - [email protected]
Published 1:04 pm PST Wednesday, January 30, 2008
TORRANCE - President Bush used a tour of a successful Southern California helicopter manufacturing plant Wednesday to pressure Congress to approve three pending free trade agreements that he said would benefit the stumbling U.S. economy.
Accompanied by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bush said that companies such as Robinson Helicopter and its 1,200 employees figure to enjoy a significant boost in business if Washington lawmakers approve the proposed pacts with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.
With 70 percent of the company's business coming through overseas trade, including deals it has with Colombia, Bush said the pacts stand to improve the economic standing of Robinson's employees and other firms that export goods in the international market.
"They ought to have a sign walking in here saying, trade is not only good, it is great," Bush said, speaking in a hangar to an audience of more than 100 employees of the helicopter firm. "And we want the federal government to make it easier for us to sell products."
Also attending the president's talk today was U.S. Rep. Jane Harman, D-Marina Del Rey, whose district includes the Robinson plant in Torrance. Harman said she voted in favor of a free trade deal with Peru that was approved by Congress, but that she has not made up her mind on the Colombia pact. She cited concerns about the country's human rights and labor records, including allegations that members of the country's military have intimidated and murdered labor leaders.
"There seem to be two different set of facts," Harman told reporters after the president's speech, about Colombia's labor and human rights record. "I hope we can find some way in Congress to try and reconcile those facts. If we work off of one set of facts, we can make a more informed judgment."