Senate "Mock" Mark-up of Draft FTA Bills Cancelled Due to GOP Boycott
The Senate Finance Committee’s “mock” mark-up of the draft implementing bills for the South Korea, Colombia, and Panama Free Trade Agreements, which include renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences, Andean Trade Preferences Act/Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act, and Trade Adjustment Assistance, was canceled due to a lack of a quorum (which requires the presence of at least one Member of each party). The mark-up could not be held because all of the Republican Senators on the Committee boycotted the mark-up.
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Republicans Claim "Mock" Mark-up Provided Insufficient Time to Consider 97 Amendments
According to a press release from Ranking Member Hatch (R), Committee Republicans chose not to attend the mark-up because the afternoon start time did not provide sufficient time to consider the three draft bills and the 97 amendments that had been filed.
Republicans Argue FTA Implementing Bills Should Limit Unrelated Provisions
Republicans argued that including unrelated provisions, like TAA, into the draft implementing bill for the Korea FTA (KORUS) violates the letter and spirit of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).
Key Senate leaders have been expressing opposition to the inclusion of TAA in the draft implementing bill for KORUS. On June 30, 2011, Republican members of the Committee sent a letter to the President explaining their opposition to including expanded TAA in KORUS. In the letter, the Senators expressed their position that the pending FTA should be “debated and considered in the Senate on its merits.”
Chairman Vows to Continue Working for Passage of Bills, Administration Urges Movement Without Delay
According to Senator Baucus (D), Chairman of the Committee, the boycott delays an opportunity to consider the draft implementing bills, but he intends to continue working toward passage of the bills in the upcoming weeks and months.
The White House issued a statement urging Congress to move forward with the FTA bills without delay.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/01/11 news, 11070119, for BP summary on the availability of the draft FTA implementing bills, 97 amendments, etc.)
Senator Baucus press release available here
Senator Hatch statement on mark-up available here
Senate Committee Republicans letter to President available here
Senator Hatch memo on the abuse of TPA available here