Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 11:21:43 -0700
From: Ron Rowe <•••@••.•••>
Organization: Rowe Communication Services
Subject: **ALERT** WTO vote still pending in House
[Please forward to anyone you think would be interested. (Apologies for
cross-posting!)]
Update -- H.J. Res. 90
--- Just Say 'NO' to the WTO ---
Debate on H.J. Res. 90, postponed from yesterday, to withdraw the
approval of the U.S. from the Agreement establishing the WTO, concluded
a short time ago on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
However, the recorded vote on the resolution has been postponed, and the
House has returned to debate on appropriations bills. If you have not
yet contacted your Representative, you still have the opportunity to do
so.
Although the WTO enjoys strong support in Congress, the debate on this
resolution was far from an endorsement of WTO policies. Many
Representatives who spoke in opposition to the resolution to withdraw
from the WTO felt it necessary to admit that the WTO has problems and
agreed with the opponents of the WTO that substantial reforms are
needed, and Representatives who support U.S. membership in the WTO
nevertheless spoke in support of the resolution to withdraw, due to the
WTO's many problems. As Rep. David Obey (D-WI) put it, "An economic
system without moral foundation is not an economic system at all. It's
a jungle. I cast this vote not because I want to withdraw. I don't.
I'm a committed internationalist. For ten years I chaired the Foreign
Operations Subcommittee. But I'm casting this vote to send a signal to
WTO and our representatives to it, that you have to give more than lip
service to the needs of workers and the environment. When you do, give
me a call. I'll be happy to change my vote. Until then, sorry, wrong
number!"
(U.S. readers) Please call or fax your Representative in Congress right
away, and ask him/her to vote for H.J. Res. 90, to withdraw
Congressional approval from the WTO Agreement. Congressional
Switchboard -- (202) 225-3121 or toll-free (888) 449-3511, or you can
find the phone and fax numbers for your Representative's Washington,
D.C. or local office at the Project Vote Smart website:
http://www.vote-smart.org/index.phtml.
Thank you,
Ron Rowe
Santa Barbara Alliance for Democracy
(Citizens' Alliance of Santa Barbara)
•••@••.•••
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