Church groups that opposed CAFTA decry its passage by House

Published: 2005-07-29

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Two national Catholic groups that had worked to defeat the Central American Free Trade Agreement decried its July 28 passage in the House. Network, a social justice lobbying organization, cited media reporting that described the late-night negotiations to flip opposition votes as "resembling the wheeling and dealing on a car lot." "How apt," said the Network statement, released shortly after the early-morning vote. "This vote was not about people; it was about big business." Network noted that when the standard 15-minute voting period on the bill had passed around 11 p.m. July 27, the vote stood at 180 against to 175 in favor. The House Republican leadership extended the time limit and supporters of the bill worked to call in members who had missed the vote and to persuade others to change their votes. When the vote stood at 217 in favor to 215 against shortly after midnight, the vote was closed. The Senate had passed the agreement by a vote of 54-45 June 30.

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