-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! China Trade Bill Gaining Support Associated Press Online - March 09, 2000 16:41 By TOM RAUM Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The Clinton administration's China trade bill appears to have enough support to pass the Senate, if narrowly, according to an informal head count by Senate sponsors. Support in the House remained in doubt. Senate supporters of the measure count 60 votes in favor of the pact, just enough to stop potential delaying tactics by opponents, congressional officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said on Wednesday. The count suggests that about 30 senators oppose the legislation and about 10 are undecided, the officials said. President Clinton sent the legislation, which would grant China permanent normal trade relations, to Congress on Wednesday and was pressing for a final vote in both chambers before Memorial Day. The bill would give China the same permanent trade benefits it grants most other nations. China's trade status now must be renewed annually. The legislation is required under a market-opening agreement the administration struck with China last year to allow Beijing to join the World Trade Organization, the Geneva-based international organization that oversees world trade rules. But given the opposition from organized labor and other interest groups, the debate is shaping up as the biggest battle of the election-year Congress. House Democratic Whip David Bonior, D-Mich., has predicted that as many as two-thirds of House Democrats would oppose the legislation. That cast doubt on whether Republican leaders could win passage of the measure given the slim GOP margin of control. There are 222 Republicans, 211 Democrats and two independents in the House. At the White House, presidential spokesman Joe Lockhart on Thursday said it's "early now to start trying to count heads. And I would suggest that anyone whose putting head count numbers out now is speculating rather than providing real solid information." "We'll continue to make that case. And we're hoping that, you know, sometime in the spring, we can bring this to a vote," Lockhart said. At the same time, Commerce Secretary William Daley told reporters after a speech to a business group, "We probably don't have the votes right now" in the House to win. "It's very fluid." In remarks to the American Council of Life Insurance, Daley predicted, "This battle will be over one way or another by Memorial Day." Daley plans to lead a group of lawmakers to China in April, one of several trips planned by the administration in its lobbying campaign. The trade legislation only requires a majority vote in both chambers. Because Senate opponents are expected to try to use delaying tactics to stall the proposal, supporters effectively need 60 votes rather than 51 to be able to prevail on motions to limit debate. Those motions require three-fifths of the Senate, or 60 votes. Senate support for the package is stronger than House support. Trade-liberalizing measures traditionally enjoy more support in the Senate than in the House. But Senate Finance Committee Chairman William Roth, R-Del., warned the administration last week not to take Senate support for granted. The informal head count suggesting sponsors barely have the 60 votes needed suggests that the fight will be a close one even in the Senate. **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
