>>Hillery, it was your husband that, if memory serves me, signed NAFTA.<<
Yes, Bill Clinton signed it, but it was GHW Bush who implemented it on September 18, 1992. Here is a portion of his letter to Congress (almost 15 years ago) regarding NAFTA:
In accordance with section 1103 (a) (1) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (”Act”), I am pleased to notify the House of Representatives and the Senate of my intent to enter into a North American Free Agreement (NAFTA) with the Governments of Mexico and Canada.
This historic agreement represents a comprehensive charter to liberalize trade and investment flows on this continent. NAFTA will link us to our first- and third-largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, respectively, to create one of the world’s largest and richest markets, with over 360 million consumers and over $6.4 trillion in annual output. It will enhance the ability of North American producers to compete in world markets, spur economic growth on the continent, expand employment, and raise living standards.
We are at the dawn of a new era. The threat of global nuclear warfare is gone. The prolonged Cold War struggle against totalitarianism, fought over half a century through immense sacrifices by countless American men and women, has ended in freedom’s victory.
Click here for the rest of George Bush, Sr.’s letter to Congress:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1584/is_n39_v3/ai_12849685
At that time, it was explained to Congress that the investor protections were needed because when US companies/investors went into Latin America to do business, these countries would impose taxes masquerading as regulations. In a sense, the investor protections were to be shield to protect the investors. And they were.
But, additionally, the lawyers turned the shield into a sword and used the investors protections to attack existing regulatory law.
This is why you will hear dems saying that the VRWC is trying to roll back the New Deal.