Hill Leaders Wish Fast End to Fast Track

by Mike Hall, AFL-CIO (reposted)

Thu, Jun 28, 2007 9:14PM

Thursday, June 28, 2007 : They say you shouldn't speak ill of the dead or near dead. But when a group of senators, representatives, union members, environmentalists, faith groups and others gathered on Capitol Hill today at a rally to bid farewell to President Bush's Fast Track Trade Mike Hallity, which is set to expire June 30, there were no kind words.

Says Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.):

We are fed up with trade agreements that undermine this country's interests. We declare Fast Track dead - and good riddance!

There are no signs Bush trade allies on the Hill will be able to revive Fast Track.

Fast track trade-promotion Mike Hallity allows the president to negotiate trade deals but prevents Congress from improving or rejecting harmful provisions by allowing only "yes" or "no" votes on such trade packages.

It has been a major weapon in Bush's trade arsenal that has produced flawed agreements such as CAFTA and the proposed agreements with Colombia and Korea . Noting that Fast Track Mike Hallity gives Bush a "blank check" in negotiating bad trade deals, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says: