New York Times | July 31, 2001 | By David Stout
WASHINGTON - In a disappointment for President Bush, his Republican allies in the House today abandoned their attempts, at least for now, to give him broad authority to negotiate trade agreements around the world.
"The long and short of it is we don't have enough Democratic votes," Representative Dick Armey of Texas, the Republican leader, told reporters at midday.
The House leadership had wanted to have a vote on the broad trade authority, also known as "fast track," before Congress adjourns for the August recess this week. Today's announcement by Mr. Armey means a debate will not be held until at least September.
Under the fast-track procedure, a President has the authority to negotiate trade agreements that are subject to yes-or-no votes on Capitol Hill. Without fast track, an agreement negotiated by the President is subject to Congressional amendments.
Starting with Gerald Ford, every President had fast-track authority. But it lapsed during the administration of President Bill Clinton, who was unable to persuade Congress to restore it.
The issue of fast-track authority has been a heated one in recent years. Many Democrats insist that trade agreements should provide sanctions on countries that fail to protect workers and the environment. Republicans are more apt to see such provisions as protectionism.
With Republicans holding only a razor-thin lead in the House, and no longer in control in the Senate, today's announcement by Mr. Armey was not a big surprise.
But Mr. Bush must still be disappointed, and he is unlikely to be consoled by reminders that his predecessor was also unable to win fast-track authority.
Mr. Bush, after all, called fast-track power "one tool I must have" when he spoke at the State Department on May 7. He has also called open trade "a moral imperative" and has declared that when America exports its goods it also exports its values.New York Times:
