Posted on 09/06/2011 5:02:30 AM PDT by markomalley
According to the White House, President Obama has been huddling with advisers on a jobs plan he’ll present to Congress this week. One thing he could do immediately is finalize the free-trade deals with Colombia, South Korea and Panama that have been languishing on his desk.
For nearly three years, Republicans and a number of Democrats have been calling on the president to approve these deals to create a level playing field with America’s competitors overseas, vastly expand the market for U.S. goods, strengthen our ties with three important allies and create jobs for Americans. Yet the deals have been stuck at the White House since Inauguration Day.
(snip)
What’s the real holdup? For three years, the administration has delayed finalizing these deals because unions have been extracting concessions in exchange for their support. Early on, they demanded further concessions and political reforms from our trading partners, all of which have been satisfied. Now, they’re demanding taxpayer funds for worker training programs that many believe are not only duplicative and costly but may not even be effective. Still, I and others have told the president we are prepared to allow this program to move ahead for a vote as a sign of good faith and to move the trade deals forward.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Two months later they still haven't been delivered to Congress for action.
Where's the press?
White House Unsure Whether it Sent Trade Deals to Congress.The WSJ editorial page mentioned it a couple of days later, but no one paid attention. Obozo was running around making campaign stops and accusing the Republicans of obstructing these deals, while the deals were still sitting on his desk.
The years ahead are going to be a good time to become self-sufficient and avoid feeding the corporate-government, anti-American beast. It will also be a good time to learn to lead.
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