Bush prepares for Colombia fight with Congress

The Bush administration signaled Wednesday it will try to force Congress to vote on a free trade agreement (FTA) with Colombia opposed by Democratic leaders and labor unions.

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab told reporters the administration would send legislation implementing the deal to Congress shortly, according to USTR spokesman Sean Spicer.

{mosads}He said the administration’s clear preference, however, is to work out a deal with members of Congress that would allow the agreement to be considered with their consent. Although the administration intends to introduce legislation if unsuccessful in reaching a deal, he said it would continue to pursue one after introduction.

The decision prompted immediate criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democrats, who charged the administration with departing from a process that led to congressional approval of a similar deal last year with Peru.

“A successful trade agenda depends on a joint partnership between Congress and the administration,” Pelosi said. “Any deviation from this normal procedure for the Colombia FTA could prove to be counterproductive and would work against both countries’ long-term interests.”

President Bush signed the Colombia deal last summer under a law known as “fast-track” that has since expired. Because it was signed before the law expired, it will be subject to fast-track rules, which prevent Congress from amending trade deals.

Fast-track also subjects the deals to tight timeframes for consideration and prevents them from being bottled up in committee. As a result, the introduction of legislation is meant to lead to a vote, although some believe Democrats could still bottle it up in the Rules Committee without violating fast-track.

President Bush on Wednesday said there needed to be a Colombia vote this year, saying Congress should be ready to move after its Easter recess.