For a while now, polls have told us that opposition to our current NAFTA-style trade policies is bipartisan - both Republican and Democratic voters know we are getting sold out. So it's great to finally see that bipartisan opposition being represented (if minimally) in the U.S. Senate:
U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today stated her opposition to congressional passage of the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement until Panama's status as a tax haven and the inadequate enforcement of U.S. trade rights have been fully addressed.
"Congressional approval of this agreement before Panama reforms its banking sector to allow for greater transparency would do more than merely reward Panama's facilitation of tax avoidance and evasion by wealthy U.S. individuals or companies which seek to hide untaxed proceeds in its banks," said Snowe, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance which today held a hearing on the free trade pact.
Maine, like most of New England, has been decimated by corporate-written trade policies, and with folks like Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME) leading the push for trade reform, Snowe has clearly made a politically smart move. More broadly, her move shows - once again - that the trade debate in this country and in D.C. is changing.
As an anti-spam measure, there is a 24-hour waiting period after registering before new users can comment. blog advertising is good for you
blog advertising is good for you
