–Senate Finance Republicans Blast Dems Over TAA Program Funds
–Sen. Hatch: Dems ‘Playing With Our Country’s Future’
–Senate GOP Derails Meeting On Panama, Colombia, South Korea Deals

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – The Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee
blocked that panel Thursday from considering legislation on pending
trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, accusing
Democrats of attaching workers assistance funds to the trade agreements.

The Senate Finance Committee had planned to take up the trade
accords at 3 p.m. Thursday but the session was cancelled when the
Republicans on the committee objected to the meeting and boycotted it.

At a briefing, Sen. Orrin Hatch, the ranking Republican on the
Senate Finance Committee, said all three trade agreements are important
for boosting jobs and economic growth in the U.S.

But he said Democrats wanted to hold the Finance Committee mark-up
late Thursday afternoon to prevent careful consideration of the packs.
He said Democrats also planned to attach a renewal of expiring Trade
Adjustment Assistance funds to the South Korean accord.

“They are playing with our country’s future,” Hatch said, adding
that Democrats are “playing politics with this issue.”

Hatch said the trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South
Korea have been ready for years, but have languished in Congress.

“We want these agreements,” Hatch said.

“This has become an embarrassment,” said Sen. Pat Roberts, also a
Republican member of the Finance Committee, referring to how long the
three agreements have been pending.

The three trade agreements were negotiated by the George W. Bush
administration, but stalled in Congress when Democrats won control of
the House and Senate in 2007.

Many Republicans argue that the TAA program is ineffective and
costly and oppose funding it.

Hatch and Roberts said the TAA should be considered separately from
the three trade accords.

The Senate Finance Committee is likely to take up the three trade
agreements some time in July

** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **

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