NAFTA and the Mexican Trucking Issue - Who Voted for it?
Do you think it was the Democrats or the Republicans?
The arrival of Mexican trucks in the United States brought NAFTA home to the trucking community. It has been an issue in many parts of the manufacturing sector for years. Whether it is good or bad depends on what position you are looking from. A review of the vote for NAFTA is interesting and makes one wonder who was for it then – who is for it now – or is this a case of first I voted for it and now I am against it by our Congressional representatives?
NAFTA passed in 1993 when the majority party in the Congress was still weighted in favor of the Democrats and Bill Clinton was President. The Senate composition was 56 Democrats and 44 Republicans. The House composition was 258 Democrats and 176 Republicans and one independent.
In the Senate 27 Democrats voted for NAFTA along with 34 Republicans while 28 Democrats voted against it as did 10 Republicans. The vote was in 1993 so Clinton and Obama were not in the Senate. McCain voted for NAFTA. It passed the Senate 61-38 with one Senator (Dorkin D-ND)
not voting.
In the House of Representatives the vote was 234-200 with 102 Democrats and 132 Republicans voting yes and the no votes were cast by 156 Democrats and 43 Republicans.
believed she favored NAFTA, 31% believed she opposed it and 34% were not sure. Is that an example of voter confusion or does it demonstrate how a consummate politician can walk both sides of the fence? This issue was critical in a state that has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs.
A review of the wide ranging provisions of NAFTA strongly indicates that it is here to stay. A report suggested that Congress might vote to renegotiate it, but President Bush will veto that bill and there
will not be enough votes to override the veto. It will be interesting if this occurs to see who votes for and against it.
No comments found.
