Senate Clears Way for Trade Bill Vote (and more federal spending)

FoxNews ^ | May 23, 2002 | AP

[Alan Chapman]

WASHINGTON — The Senate signaled strong bipartisan support for trade legislation on Wednesday, voting to curtail debate on a measure designed to enhance President Bush's negotiating authority while expanding federal aid to American workers hurt by imports.

"Trade is in the interest of our workers, trade is in the interest of job creation, trade is in the interest of developing nations as well as developed nations," Bush said, prodding Congress to act as he left for a trip through three Western European countries and Russia.

[Alan Chapman]

Several points to make.

1. The federal government ought not be doing any of this.
2. When "White House and GOP leaders that they said would offer protection for an industry..." that really means they intend to give away taxpayers' money to people who are unable to compete in a market saturated by tax and regulation.
3. When "House Republican leaders also agreed to add a provision to a spending measure to provide additional Medicare funding..." that really means they intend to give away taxpayers' money to people who cannot afford medical care in a market which was ruined by the government.
4. Health care subsidies and job retraining benefits (at a cost of $10 billion to $12 billion over the next decade), as well as "wage insurance" and import protection are not things the government should be doing.

The Republican party is supposed to be the "party of smaller government" and yet they are only too happy to expand programs, add new ones, increase funding, pass more regulations, and offer "protection" to certain industries. Ask yourself if that's the kind of government you want.

[boomop1]

This is BS, might as well have president hillary.

[Alan Chapman]

Important stuff.