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Pelosi, Dems Hijack Colombia Free-Trade Deal
They change House rules to avoid a vote, angering Bush
By Zach Samalin
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Posted Apr 9, 08 6:58 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Congressional Democrats thumbed their noses today at Bush's renewed efforts to pass a free-trade pact with Colombia. Bush sent the bill over Monday, mandating Congress to vote yea or nay within 90 days. Or so he thought. Nancy Pelosi is changing the House rules and won't allow a vote until the White House attends to more pressing domestic issues, the New York Times reports.
The White House blasted Pelosi's move, arguing that opposition to the bill weakens US-Colombia relations, lends support to America's foes, and could throw the economy into further disrepair. But for the time being Democrats are sticking to their guns—and their labor and working-class constituents, who view free-trade as a major source of the current economic downturn.