CAFTA--Continue The Fight

The U.S. House of Representatives passed CAFTA Wednesday  night—by a scandalous two-vote margin.

 

Your continued pressure on members of Congress made a huge difference. This was the best result we’ve ever had among Democrats on a trade deal. But close isn’t good enough.  The 15 Democrats and the 202 Republicans who voted for CAFTA voted AGAINST American jobs.  They voted AGAINST decent treatment for our Dominican and Central American brothers and sisters. They voted AGAINST working families.

And they need to hear right away that there are consequences for sell-out votes like this.

Please contact your representatives right now and thank them if they voted with working families. But if they voted wrong, put the heat on—make sure they know there are consequences for voting against working families.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: CAFTA: Your Vote Will Be Remembered

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thousands of working families are taking action to say thanks to those who stood with working families and to show deep disappointment with those who chose to vote against us.

For those who voted for CAFTA, we will hold you accountable nationally and individually when you seek our votes.

We send a special thanks to those Republican members of Congress who defied their party to stand with workers and vote against CAFTA:

Charles Boustany (La.), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.)., Howard Coble (N.C.), Barbara Cubin (Wyoming), Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Scott Garrett (N.J.), Virgil Goode (Va.), Gil Gutknecht (Minn.), John Hostettler (Ind.), Duncan Hunter (Calif.), Bobby Jindal (La.), Walter Jones (N.C.), Frank LoBiondo (N.J.), Connie Mack (Fla.), Thaddeus McCotter(Mich.), Patrick McHenry (N.C.), John McHugh (N.Y.), Candice Miller (Mich.), Robert Ney (Ohio), Charlie Norwood (Ga.), Butch Otter (Idaho), Ron Paul (Texas), Dennis Rehberg (Mont.), Rob Simmons (Conn.), Mike Simpson (Idaho), Chris Smith (N.J.) and Tom Tancredo (Colo.).

We are especially disappointed with those Democratic members of Congress who deserted working families by voting for CAFTA:

Melissa Bean (Ill.), Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), Norman Dicks (Wash.), Ruben Hinojosa (Texas), William Jefferson (La.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), Dennis Moore (Kan.), Jim Moran (Va.), Solomon Ortiz (Texas) , Ike Skelton (Mo.), Vic Snyder (Ark.), John Tanner Tenn.) and Edolphus Towns (N.Y.).

You're vote will be remembered.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
July 29, 2005


Background Information

What You Need to Know About The CAFTA Vote:

The U.S. House of Representatives passed CAFTA in the middle of the night—by a scandalous two-vote margin.

 

Your pressure on members of Congress made a huge difference-this was the best result we’ve ever had among Democrats on a trade deal. But close isn’t good enough. It's time to put the heat on these decision makers—they need to know there are consequences for voting against working families. 

The 15 Democrats and the 202 Republicans who voted for CAFTA voted AGAINST American jobs.  They voted AGAINST decent treatment for our Dominican and Central American brothers and sisters. They voted AGAINST working families.

Because of your efforts we were able to persuade the majority of Democrats to vote against CAFTA. 

Unfortunately the following 15 Democrats joined with 202 Republicans to vote against working families and voted wrong on CAFTA:
Melissa Bean (Ill.), Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), Norman Dicks (Wash.), Rubèn Hinojosa (Texas), William Jefferson (La.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), Dennis Moore (Kan.), Jim Moran (Va.), Solomon Ortiz  (Texas) , Ike Skelton (Mo.), Vic Snyder (Ark.), John Tanner Tenn.), Edolphus Towns (N.Y.).

 

And these 27 Republican members of Congress joined 187 Democrats and 1 Independent in voting with working families and against CAFTA:

Charles Boustany (La.), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va)., Howard Coble (N.C.), Barbara Cubin (Wyoming), Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Scott Garrett (NJ), Virgil Goode (Va.), Gil Gutknecht (Minn.), John Hostettler (Ind.), Duncan Hunter (Calif.), Bobby Jindal (La.), Walter Jones (NC), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), Connie Mack (Fla.), Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.), Patrick McHenry (N.C.), John McHugh (NY), Candice Miller (Mich.), Robert Ney (Ohio), Charlie Norwood (Ga.), Butch Otter (Idaho), Ron Paul (Texas), Dennis Rehberg (Mont.), Rob Simmons (Conn.), Mike Simpson (Idaho), Chris Smith (N.J.), Tom Tancredo (Colo.).

 

Please take a moment right now to reward those who stood with working families with a message and hold those accountable that voted to support CAFTA.

You can view the full roll-call on the U.S. House vote on CAFTA here: 
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=542&chamber=H&congress=1082&printer=1