Blog-IT-o ergo sum

	5/17/2005

Howard Coble Speaks on CAFTA

Here are the highlights of our interview with Howard Coble yesterday on the Liberty Hour at AM 1230.

1) Congressman Coble has been leaning NO on CAFTA but remains uncommitted. There is a closed to the public forum in Congress next Tuesday where three parties from each side of the debate will make their case. Apparently, this meeting will weigh heavily on Congressman Coble's final decision should CAFTA even make it to a vote.

2) If NAFTA were voted on today, Congressman Coble would vote for it again. He noted our increased exports to Canada and Mexico as proof the deal is a success. He was not familiar with the issue we raised of NAFTA tribunals over ruling State and US Supreme Courts. That being the case, we did not bother to go back and show him up on the trade data which shows that while one can correctly state our exports to Canada and Mexico are up, are huge increase in imports from these countries has turned a modest trade surplus with these two major trading partners to large and growing deficit.

3) He didn't bite on our suggestion that he join 5th District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx in adding his name as a co-sponsor to Ron Paul's HR-1146 The US Sovereignty Restoration Act.

4) He was not aware of Congressman Walter Jones (NC-3rd) announcing his position two weeks back of being the Republican co-chair for the bi-partisan coalition to defeat CAFTA in the House. Afterwards his chief of staff Ed McDonald did confirm that their office had been contacted by Congressman Jone's office. No result of course since Congressman Coble has been unwilling to commit himself on this issue.

3:01:57 PM

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