Washington senators vote for CAFTA
Washington State's senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, went on the record tonight with a major vote for CATFA - according to StopCAFTA.org, CAFTA is a proposed "free" trade agreement that includes the United States, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica.
The Dominican Republic may also be added to the group. Negotiations for CAFTA were complete in December and January.
CAFTA is modeled after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA has been a disaster for small farmers and working people in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs lost, family farms foreclosed, and public interest laws overturned or challenged in secret NAFTA courts.
Despite this dismal record, the Bush administration is seeking to expand NAFTA to Central America and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.
From the beginning of CAFTA negotiations, the Bush administration has been clear that completion of CAFTA is crucial to move the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations forward faster, by adding extra pressure to countries like Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina to either accede to U.S. demands, or be left out.
The Murray/Cantwell vote for CAFTA is both surprising and disappointing. Here's how you can register your protest and disappointment in the CATFA vote with Cantwell and Murray's offices:
Senator Patty Murray
Washington, D.C. Office
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
Email Senator Murray
Visit this page for contact info for Murray's local offices in Everett, Seattle, Vancouver, Spokane, Tacoma, and Yakima.
Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington, D.C. Office
717 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3441
Fax: 202-228-0514
Email Senator Cantwell
Visit this page for contact info for Cantwell's local offices in Everett, Seattle, Vancouver, Spokane, Tacoma, and Richland.
TIP: We strongly recommend sending a fax. It's the most effective way to communicate with your representatives and senators on The Hill.
CAFTA faces an uncertain future in the House, with many Republicans opposed and few Democrats lined up in support. Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA) has announced his support, while Rep. Jay Inslee just announced he'll vote against it. Rep. Adam Smith has also expressed his concerns and stands with the opposition.
The Dominican Republic may also be added to the group. Negotiations for CAFTA were complete in December and January.
CAFTA is modeled after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA has been a disaster for small farmers and working people in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs lost, family farms foreclosed, and public interest laws overturned or challenged in secret NAFTA courts.
Despite this dismal record, the Bush administration is seeking to expand NAFTA to Central America and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.
From the beginning of CAFTA negotiations, the Bush administration has been clear that completion of CAFTA is crucial to move the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations forward faster, by adding extra pressure to countries like Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina to either accede to U.S. demands, or be left out.
The Murray/Cantwell vote for CAFTA is both surprising and disappointing. Here's how you can register your protest and disappointment in the CATFA vote with Cantwell and Murray's offices:
Senator Patty Murray
Washington, D.C. Office
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
Email Senator Murray
Visit this page for contact info for Murray's local offices in Everett, Seattle, Vancouver, Spokane, Tacoma, and Yakima.
Senator Maria Cantwell
Washington, D.C. Office
717 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3441
Fax: 202-228-0514
Email Senator Cantwell
Visit this page for contact info for Cantwell's local offices in Everett, Seattle, Vancouver, Spokane, Tacoma, and Richland.
TIP: We strongly recommend sending a fax. It's the most effective way to communicate with your representatives and senators on The Hill.
CAFTA faces an uncertain future in the House, with many Republicans opposed and few Democrats lined up in support. Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA) has announced his support, while Rep. Jay Inslee just announced he'll vote against it. Rep. Adam Smith has also expressed his concerns and stands with the opposition.
