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Chris Collins against fast-track authority on trade agreements

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today released the following statement regarding his opposition to President Obama’s request for fast-track trade promotion authority.

“I am a firm believer in free trade, but it must also be fair trade,” Congressman Collins said. “The secret executive branch negotiations on massive trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership will hurt American workers and businesses by excluding important provisions to combat currency manipulation. It is because of the hardworking Western New Yorkers struggling for a fair chance at the American Dream that I will oppose granting the president fast-track authority to negotiate free trade agreements.”

Bea McManis

I wonder if he would have felt the same when it was proposed by George H. W. Bush?
George W. Bush on Free Trade
President of the United States, Former Republican Governor (TX)
Don’t link trade to environment and labor
Free trade is a subject on which both candidates appear to start from the same position, commitment to free trade. From that point, their positions swiftly diverge. Bush would:support restoration of “fast-track” negotiating authority for the president
opposes linking trade agreements to labor and environmental issues
supports the expansion of NAFTA throughout the Americas
supports the admission of China and Taiwan to the WTO
wants strict enforcement of anti-dumping and other laws against “unfair” trade
intends to revise export controls to tighten control over military technology and ease restrictions on commercial technology
wants to make international financial institutions more accountable and transparent
strongly supports free trade, saying that the case for it is “not just monetary but moral” and pledging to make the expansion of trade a consistent priority“
http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/George_W__Bush_Free_Trade.htm

Feb 19, 2015, 9:37pm Permalink
Peter O'Brien

I'm confused on why Bush's feeling matter in Obama's kingdom.

Also, do you think so lowly of people that they must have the same opinion of their party's leader?

Feb 19, 2015, 3:17pm Permalink
Tim Miller

If the fine politician is now griping about what President Obama is doing, yet was quiet or approved of *his* guy doing the same thing, then he loses all sorts of credibility.

Feb 19, 2015, 7:07pm Permalink

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