How many threats and bribes did it take to pass CAFTA?

[quaoar]

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=98874§ion=farm

Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., said the Bush administration and Republican leaders strong-armed Republican House members into voting for CAFTA. He said they used highway funds and the threat of stripping chairmanships from Republican House members if they didn't support CAFTA.

"I've seen the Republican leadership break arms on close votes before, but nothing quite this ugly," Pomeroy said.

[Parche]

1. cafta

What is so big about CAFTA that these thugs would go all out
to get it passed

[tritsofme]

3. It would have been an embarrassing failure to Bush

And would have contributed to the argument that he is already a lame duck.

[Geek_Girl]

6. CAFTA is very important for Corporations

Cheap labor in central america is allowing corporate profits to soar. CAFTA pretty much defines what the Bush administration is all about.

[Beaver Tail]

2. Isn’t it a contract not binding if entered in

Under coercion? :grr:

[unrepuke]

4. Did Bush flip us all off before or after passing CAFTA ?

[fooj]

5. A shitload of them, I'm sure.

Peace.

[wli]

7. isn't there some kind of law against this?

Someone needs to file a complaint with the FBI about it ASAP.

[ArlingtonVaCentrist]

8. Politics as usual

This is nothing more than politics as usual. That being said, Federal Highway funds should not be held over a particular states' head for any reason. It's becoming more and more typical to see the threat of federal fund rescindment as a tool to bully the states into the complying with the federal government. That should stop.

[wli]

9. okay, regulation needed