[CTC_TRADE] NYTimes.com: The Caucus: Rangel's 'Leave' May Not Be Temporary

[adam at wetlands-preserve.org]

"Meanwhile, Democrats will have to name a replacement for Rangel atop the 
Ways and Means panel - no easy task considering that the next in line, Rep. 
Pete Stark (D-Calif.), is even more controversial than Rangel."
Rangel Announces Leave of Absence at Ways and Means
http://washingtonindependent.com/78166/rangel-announces-leave-of-absence-at-ways-and-means

"Next in line behind Rangel to chair the Ways and Means Committee is Rep. 
Pete Stark (D-Calif.), one of the most liberal and outspoken members of the 
House. In 2007, Stark said that troops were being sent to Iraq to "get their 
heads blown off for the president's amusement.""
Charles Rangel temporarily steps down as Ways and Means chairman
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-rangel4-2010mar04,0,5003518.story

"Stark or Levin for Ways & Means? If Rangel "temporarily" steps aside, Stark 
takes over; if it's a longer term deal, expect Levin to get it"
Rep. Rangel Set to Step Down as Ways and Means Chair
http://firedoglake.com/2010/03/02/rep-rangel-set-to-step-down-as-ways-and-means-chair/

"He may make the move as early as tonight as pressure mounts and sources 
told NBC that either Michigan Democratic Rep Sander Levin or California 
Democrat Pete Stark will temporarily take over the committee."
Rangel Giving Up the Gavel: Sources
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Rangel-Giving-Up-the-Gavel-86054087.html

Background on Pete Stark and Trade

Pete Stark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Stark

Stark voted NO on NAFTA, CAFTA, Oman, and  Peru FTAs.

"Pete Stark on Trade:
Congressman Stark is an advocate of fair trade. That means protecting 
American jobs from Free Trade Agreements that provide incentives for U.S. 
corporations to move jobs overseas where labor is cheap and plentiful. That 
means raising the standard of living in developing countries by enforcing 
strong labor and environmental standards in trade agreements. That means 
ensuring our trading partners have access to affordable medicines to treat 
HIV/AIDS and other diseases that have nearly wiped out many local economies. 
Pete has voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the 
Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and all other agreements that 
didn't include strong labor and environmental protections."
 http://www.petestark.com/issues/trade/trade.html

110th Congress Accomplishments on trade:
"
FAIR TRADE

The Ways and Means Committee also has jurisdiction over trade matters and 
Congressman Stark has used his position to oppose "free trade" agreements 
that are neither free nor fair.   Stark works to ensure that trade 
agreements do not facilitate the outsourcing or off-shoring of American jobs 
and that they protect the human and economic rights of workers in other 
countries.  He opposed both the North American and Central American Free 
Trade Agreements, and most recently, an agreement with Peru and Colombia.
PERU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
The Peru agreement, H.R. 3688, enables foreign companies to challenge -- in 
foreign courts - American laws that protect occupational health, safety, and 
the environment. Already, NAFTA signatories have paid more than $35 million 
to corporations that have used a similar provision to attack bans on the use 
of toxic chemicals, limits on tobacco production and marketing, and 
regulations on deforestation.

Mr. Stark stated that the Peru agreement significantly improved upon the 
flawed framework of the North American and Central American Free Trade 
Agreements by providing environmental and labor protections.  However, he 
continues to oppose free trade agreements that use the flawed template of 
NAFTA and CAFTA and simply make cosmetic improvements.  "Rather than improve 
on President Bush's trade agreements at the margins, Democrats can and 
should set the terms of the President's negotiating authority in a way that 
honors our commitment to America's workers and the environment," remarked 
Mr. Stark.

COLOMBIA TRADE AGREEMENT
Stark opposed the Colombia agreement, H.R. 5724.  The Colombian government 
has a troubling history of not protecting labor leaders and trade unionists. 
This, coupled with the fact that the Colombian agreement did not include 
robust labor or environmental standards cemented Stark's opposition.  Trade 
agreements should benefit workers and the countries that enact them.  The 
Colombia agreement did not meet that threshold and Stark was pleased that it 
did not become law during the 110th Congress."
http://www.stark.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1285&Itemid=114

109th Congress Accomplishments on Trade:
"TRADE
Bush Administration trade policy is failing. Current trade negotiations are 
more concerned with corporate profits than American workers. Not only does 
the U.S. faces record trade deficits, we are also sending millions of good 
paying American jobs are overseas. Free and fair trade between countries 
requires a level playing field where all parties have strong labor and 
environmental protections. The Bush Administration refuses to require U.S. 
trading partners to meet even the most basic international labor and 
environmental standards.

Stark voted against CAFTA and the Oman and Bahrain free trade agreements 
because the Bush Administration refused to include basic labor and 
environmental standards in the text of the agreement. These trade pacts also 
limit access to affordable generic medicines in countries that can barely 
afford medicine at all.  Stark will continue to oppose free trade agreements 
with any country unless the Administration reverses course and changes the 
agreements to protect labor rights, the environment and access to affordable 
pharmaceuticals.

Eliminating trade barriers and reducing tariffs can be positive for U.S. 
based exporters.  Stark voted in favor of extending normal trade relations 
status to the Ukraine. Increased trade will bring stability to this 
burgeoning democracy and provide the resources necessary for the Ukraine to 
continue improving its labor and environmental standards.
Trade Sanction Avoidance Act: The U.S. has a long history of ignoring basic 
international obligations. We refuse to join the International Criminal 
Court, we won't sign the Kyoto Treaty, and we pulled out of the 
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. So it came as no surprise when on February 
12, 2006 the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body - for the third 
time - found that U.S. corporate tax laws violate WTO rules.

Stark reacted immediately to this news by authoring, H.R. 4909, the Trade 
Sanction Avoidance Act. This bill protected American manufacturers from 
being subjected to hundreds of millions of dollars in retaliatory trade 
sanctions. Fortunately, the trade sanction crisis was averted when language 
similar to Stark's bill was signed into law as part of the Tax Increase 
Prevention and Reconciliation Act (H.R. 4297). "
http://www.stark.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1058&Itemid=10

Stark's Floor Testimony on Peru FTA:
"Statement of Representative Pete Stark for Labor and Environmental 
Protections at Home and Abroad
Tuesday, 06 November 2007

Much like the North American and Central American Free Trade Agreements, 
this agreement will hurt both working families and the environment..

"FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD

November 7, 2007

Statement of Representative Pete Stark

In Support of Labor and Environmental Protections at Home and Abroad

MR. STARK: Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to a Peru Free Trade 
Agreement that is neither free nor fair.  Much like
the North American and Central American Free Trade Agreements, this 
agreement will hurt both working families and the
environment.

Building on the Bush Administration’s framework for CAFTA, it promotes 
the offshoring of high-wage American
manufacturing jobs by removing many of the risks firms face when relocating 
to Peru in pursuit of cheap labor.

Much like NAFTA, it enables foreign companies to challenge -- in foreign 
courts – American laws that protect
occupational health, safety, and the environment.  Already, NAFTA 
signatories have paid more than $35 million to
corporations that have through this provision attacked bans on the use of 
toxic chemicals, limits on tobacco production
and marketing, and regulations on deforestation.

In one case that hit particularly close to home, a foreign firm challenged 
California’s ban on the use of polluting
gasoline additive MTBE.  As a result, American taxpayers were forced to pay 
more than $3 million in legal fees before the
case was eventually dismissed on technical grounds.

This agreement also undercuts Congress'; authority to ensure American tax 
dollars are spent to create jobs in
America by enabling President Bush to waive existing ‘Buy 
America’ policies.  And it enables foreign firms
to challenge American procurement policies designed to promote recycling and 
renewable energy.

That's why numerous American labor, environmental, consumer, faith, family 
farm, and development groups
oppose this agreement. Both of Peru’s labor federations, its major 
indigenous people’s organization, and a
prominent Archbishop in the country oppose this agreement as well.

To be fair, this agreement does significantly improve upon the flawed 
framework provided by the North American and
Central American Free Trade Agreements. For new labor and environmental 
protections that were absent from prior
trade deals, I want to thank and recognize the hard work of my colleagues on 
the Ways and Means Committee.

Making measured alterations to the rules of the same old game, however, is 
the wrong approach. Rather than improve
on President Bush’s trade agreements at the margins, Democrats can and 
should set the terms of the
President’s negotiating authority in a way that honors our commitment 
to America’s workers and the
environment.

I urge my colleagues to vote no."

PDF at 
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stark.house.gov%2Findex2.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26do_pdf%3D1%26id%3D31&ei=qImOS-LJJMff8AbWr_iGDQ&usg=AFQjCNEfuY9LNXy52FR5XvwALsbWysonvg&sig2=elU5bfwHY3vbuY8v-pJgFQ