Republicans Just Don't Get It: Free Trade Edition

More than a year ago at this point, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda said the Kansas Republican Party and their national counterparts just "don't get it" when it comes to the issues that are near and dear to Kansans- and that they just don't get the fact attacking her ceaselessly does them almost no good at all.

The still haven't learned that lesson, apparently, which shouldn't really surprise anyone. They're all still pretty sure attacking her for doing exactly what her district wants is a winning strategy.

Today, what has become the only Republican blog worth reading (both because it's the only one that posts regularly and becaise it's kind of entertaining how deftly they bend reality to shine only on Republicans and a certain coal-fired power plant), posted about the Columbia Free Trade agreement, which, as you remember, was recently taken off of automatic fast-track status by logical and responsible vote of the House (it's good to think about things before you vote on them...we understand that's a hard concept for conservatives...it lets facts get in the way of rabid anti-Americanism).

Anyway, the post written by the Right Wingers smacks Boyda around, saying her vote is proof positive she's not an independent voice for Kansans because- insert shock- many other members of her same party voted the same way she did (just advanced logic, boys...), and comes up with the hair-brained assertion her vote hurt Kansans.

It, of course, did the exact opposite.

Our philosophy says it's best to always use the Congresswoman's words rather than make up our own, so here ya go:

Over the past ten years, free trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) have resulted in lost jobs for Kansans.

Obvious to anyone paying attention...or to anyone who has seen this chart. Even newer numbers say Kansas has lost nearly 17,000 because of NAFTA alone. That's more people than live in most Kansas cities.

The high quality jobs that Americans depend on to provide for their families have moved to countries with cheaper labor and often sub-standard working conditions. As long as our trade agreements do not address job loss for Americans and safe working conditions among all countries, trade will continue to be unequal.

These negotiated trade agreements do not sufficiently guard the American workers and businesses because the safeguards are not enforceable. An important key to revising US trade policies has taken place; the fast track negotiating authority has expired. This means the President no longer has the power to negotiate trade agreements without congressional amendment. Congress can again oversee and shape trade policy as described in the Constitution and provide balance between the branches of government.

Good God! You mean they actually made the President of the United States follow the Constitution? How horrendous! And how totally un-independent of Boyda..she ought be ashamed!

While this particular vote wasn't an up or down vote on the trade agreement, Boyda has been clear that unfair trade policies will not receive her support- regardless of how much TheKansasRepublican thinks that means she just marching to someone else's drum.

If any trade agreements come before Congress that do not provide for a more even playing field and fairer working conditions, I will oppose them and actively work to have my colleagues do the same.

In the end, Boyda is marching to a different drum than the person who writes TKR is- she's marching to the drum the people of Kansas are playing. Someday, hopefully, you'll get to hear it, too.

House Balks at President's Demands; Boyda & Moore Stand Up for Kansas

In a direct confrontation with the White House over free trade policies that hurt Kansans, the House of Representatives voted today to change House rules regarding "fast-tracked" trade agreements.

From Politico.com:

In a clear rebuke of President Bush, the House approved a change to chamber rules on Thursday that would allow Democratic leaders to suspend consideration of a controversial trade deal with Colombia.

A largely divided House voted, 224-195, to suspend a requirement that would force lawmakers to vote on the free-trade deal with Colombia within 60 legislative days from the time Bush sent it to Capitol Hill.

Both Congresswoman Nancy Boyda and Congressman Dennis Moore voted with Kansas and supported the change in rules. Both of our Republican members of the House voted in lock-step with the Bush Administration.

Uncontrolled free trade is a folly- like we've seen with NAFTA. We're proud half of our delegation decided to do the right then and say "no" to further force-fed trade policy.

KS Republican legislator sides with Boyda on NAFTA & Superhighway

As reported by the Kansas City Star, conservative Republican member of the Kansas State House of Representatives Judy Morrison has introduced a resolution seeking to express the opinion of the entire Kansas State Legislature that the United States should withdraw from NAFTA and oppose construction of the NAFTA Superhighway.

At a hearing Monday, Morrison, a Republican, said powerful financial interests are working to create a new super highway and trade corridor from Mexico to Canada through several states, including Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

During recorded testimony played before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, Oklahoma Sen. Randy Brogdon said the corridor would be subject not to U.S. laws but international law.

“The super corridor will cause the largest confiscation of private property ever seen in the United States,” he said.

Morrison’s resolution is supported by the Teamsters Union and U.S. Reps. Nancy Boyda of Topeka, a Democrat, and Jerry Moran of Hays, a Republican.

[UPDATE: Congressman Moran's office contacted this blog, directing us to an update to this quote story, which clarifies that Moran doesn't support withdrawal from NAFTA, but does not support construction of a NAFTA Superhighway.]

Jim Ryun's campaign screamed in 2006 that Boyda was just trying to scare voters into supporting her. We wonder what he says to people like Rep. Judy Morrison and Rep. Jerry Moran.

Or to former constituents like Richard Oates of Topeka, who sent in a letter to the Topeka Capital-Journal thanking Boyda for her dedication to opposing a NAFTA supercorridor.

Take it from me as a truck driver: Mrs. Boyda deserves enormous credit for her efforts to prevent the NAFTA superhighway and improve our road safety.

The superhighway is a rotten idea for many reasons. It threatens highway safety by allowing uninspected, poorly built Mexican trucks on American highways. It threatens the American trucking industry by allowing low-paid, undertrained Mexican drivers to take our jobs. It threatens our immigration laws by weakening our border with Mexico. And it threatens the American economy with limitless, runaway trade.

Mrs. Boyda has fought to address all of these problems. She wrote the Safe American Roads Act, which blocked funding for a program to allow Mexican trucks onto American roads. Her bill passed the House of Representatives last year. She has also introduced a bill to renegotiate NAFTA to improve America's trade imbalance.

We agree with Mr. Oates, who concludes by saying he's thankful Rep. Boyda is protecting the border. It's just another issue that is deeply important to our national security and to her constituents that she has already shown more leadership on than Jim Ryun did in his whole career.

Boyda continues to be right on illegal immigration, NAFTA

Watch your mailboxes (if you live in the 2nd District of Kansas)- Congresswoman Nancy Boyda's office has sent out a bulletin detailing her work to halt illegal immigration and on trade issue she confronted in her first year in Congress.

Just a couple of the items from the mailer: Boyda was one of the only Democrats to oppose efforts in the House and Senate to grant amnesty to illegal immigration, and Boyda successfully pushed a bill to near- unanimous approval to prevent a Bush Administration plan to allow unsafe Mexican trucks to drive deep into the United States.

Another issue Boyda mentions in her mailer has continued to garner her press mentions: her bill to require the renegotiation of NAFTA:

Boyda and Kaptur, the lead sponsors, aren’t waiting for the study. They want NAFTA renegotiated, now. If the negotiations do not produce 5 specific, concrete improvements, the bill says the U.S. must withdraw from NAFTA.

"NAFTA is dragging down our economy, weakening our borders, and devastating our manufacturers. After 14 years, it's time to either fix NAFTA or get the heck out of it,” Boyda, the lead sponsor, told a radio show in Wichita, announcing the bill. “Even supporters admit NAFTA is deeply flawed, but nobody had the guts to fix the problem.”

One thing is undeniable: Congresswoman Nancy Boyda is representing her district better than it has seen since the early 1990's, particularly on illegal immigration and on trade.

(Note: We still plan a year end round-up...sorry to keep putting it off!)

Tankers, prisons & NAFTA

A quick rundown of three news items relating to Congresswoman Nancy Boyda from this last week:

First, a piece from the Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Boyda added an amendment on to the National Defense Authorization Act "to allow 48 of the 85 KC-135Es in the country to be retired immediately. The remaining 37 will be decommissioned as newer model replacements become available."

According to the article, eight of those KC-135Es are currently located at Forbes Field in Topeka, with four more expected to arrive soon. The planes are no longer needed, but current federal law requires the planes to be kept at "warm-ready" status- resulting in an expenditure of $1.1 million annually in Topeka alone.

And, just so no one says anything about this bring "anti-military," the Guard thinks it's a good idea, too.

Sharon Watson, spokeswoman for the Kansas National Guard, said the act should result in freed-up space and money at Forbes.

"We have a number of planes stored at 190th Air Refueling Wing that would be impossible to retire given the former legislation," she said. "We're very pleased to see this bill pass."

Next, a story in the St. Louis Examiner says Boyda and Senator Sam Brownback are both pushing for a new federal prison to be built in Leavenworth.

Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., who represents the Leavenworth area and has also lobbied for a new facility, said residents are enthusiastic about the possibility of gaining a new prison.

"Prisons are the foundation of Leavenworth's economy, and a new facility would certainly strengthen that foundation," Boyda said.

Finally, some more national exposure for Congresswoman Boyda's NAFTA Accountability Act from David Sirota.

Boyda's Top 10 Problems in DC

Earlier this week, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda was the host of the Jim Cates show for the whole show- 8 - 11 a.m. All accounts are she did a great job.

Boyda used a Letterman-esque "Top Ten" list to keep the show moving. We've already talked about her exciting new NAFTA legislation, but here is the whole list of her ten biggest problems with Washington, DC:

AFTER FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, BOYDA LISTS TOP 10 PROBLEMS WITH WASHINGTON, D.C.

By Rep. Nancy Boyda

If you're like most Kansans, you trust Washington about as far as you can sling a piano – and with good reason. From the Abramoff lobbying scandal to the Craig sex scandal, from $3 gasoline to the endless war in Iraq, from the skyrocketing national debt to the runaway cost of health care, Washington has proven time and again that it doesn't deserve your trust.

If Kansans hope to clean up our nation's capital, I believe that our first step must be to define the problem. Why, exactly, do we have so little faith in our leaders? What has gone wrong?

If you ask me, there isn't just one problem – there are many. I could probably list a hundred, but for now, here are what I see as the top ten things wrong with Washington, D.C. today.

10. Capitol Hill is an ethical swamp. Earlier this year, in an effort to begin cleaning up Capitol Hill, I authored legislation to strip the government pensions of Members of Congress who commit federal crimes. The good news: My provision passed the House unanimously and was signed into law by the president. The bad news: So much work remains to be done. Until Congress is held accountable by a powerful, independent ethics committee, corruption will remain the rule rather than the exception.

9. D.C. kicks Americans while they're down. If you're a middle-class Kansan having difficulty paying to heat your home this winter, or if you're working hard but can't afford health care for your kids, or if you're disabled in a car accident, don't look to Washington for help. Although Congress has passed several bills to help the middle class, all have been vetoed by the president.

8. Washington is out of touch with the heartland. Many of my colleagues in Congress only visit their districts a few times a year. They simply don't have a clue what life is like for everyday Americans. I've worked hard to avoid being trapped "inside the Beltway" – for example, I turned down the Congressional health care plan so that I stay in touch with the cost of health insurance, and I fly home to Kansas nearly every weekend – but far too many politicians have lost contact with their constituents.

7. Lawmakers play hide-and-seek in the federal budget. Every single Member of Congress can request federal funds for "earmarked" projects in their communities; most never release their requests to the public. You have no way of knowing how your elected officials want to spend your tax dollars. That's just wrong. Members of Congress should be required to disclose their earmark requests to the public. I was the first representative in Kansas history to do so: You can view a full list of my requests at www.boyda.house.gov.

6. D.C. has abandoned our kids. Earlier this year, a Kansas man found guilty of possessing child pornography walked free because Congress had written a needlessly vague law. I authored legislation to close this loophole, and the House of Representatives passed it unanimously last month – but Congress should have done its job right the first time. Washington has ignored our kids in other ways, too: Just look at the President's veto of the critically important Children's Health Insurance program, or the consistent underfunding of our schools under No Child Left Behind.

5. Politicians use, then abuse, our nation's veterans. Our VA facilities are badly overburdened. Many veterans wait months or years to receive the medical care they need. Congress took a major step toward fixing the problem by passing $5.2 billion in emergency funding for the VA, but at many facilities, the backlogs remain severe.

4. Washington is gambling with our national security. The war in Iraq has stretched America's strategic readiness dangerously thin. Our military will need about ten years to reset its resources across the globe, and until then, America will be ill-equipped to respond to terrorist attacks or rogue nations. The world is growing more dangerous each day. Congress must take steps to rebuild our readiness and refocus our military on global threats.

3. Congress doesn't understand the word "illegal." Illegal immigration is undermining our nation's economy and endangering our security. America can't ignore this problem any longer, and we can't afford another 1986-style amnesty. We need meaningful, aggressive immigration reform that strengthens our borders and cracks down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. And we need it now.

2. Republicans and Democrats can't play in the same sandbox. Turn on C-SPAN for an hour, and see if you can spot even five minutes of substantive debate. An unseemly amount of House floor time is wasted on shouting matches; the Senate is routinely a hair's breadth away from a filibuster. Republicans and Democrats rarely even talk to each other, let alone accomplish real work. In my role as Republican Liaison for the freshman class of Democratic representatives, I'm working hard to reach across party lines. Too often, partisanship gets in the way of progress.

1. NAFTA. You'd be hard-pressed to find a politician in America who hasn't, at some point or another, acknowledged problems with the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA is dragging down our economy, weakening our borders, and devastating our manufacturers. After fourteen years, it's time to either fix NAFTA or get the heck out of it. In early December, I'll introduce legislation to require precisely that.

These problems are daunting, and they won't disappear overnight. But they can be solved, and the solution begins with individual Kansans – people like you.

As I've so often said, democracy is a contact sport. If we want to have any hope of cleaning up the Washington train wreck, each and every one of us must do our part.

More coverage of Boyda's landmark NAFTA legislation

Nancy Boyda's been all over the media today, from the front page of the New York Times to the pages of our very own Topeka Capital-Journal and every single piece (written by a non-radical Republican partisan) says that same thing: Nancy Boyda is representing her district to the nines.

Our good friend Ally took on the story from the NYT earlier today- we're so glad she took the time to post here before sending the piece on to her national sites- and she did a fine job explaining the piece. It was a little bit sensational, which certainly sells papers, but probably the best thing to take out of it is that Congresswoman Boyda has connected with her district, is working hard, and will win or lose on her own merits, no those of someone else. 'Course, Boyda makes the point best in the article:

Of the presidential race, she said: “It is something I have no control over, quite honestly. They will demonize any Democrat who becomes the nominee. I just put my head down and work.”

And work she is, yesterday unveiling a remarkably ambitious bill to rework NAFTA.

The Topeka Capital-Journal ran a great article today detailing Boyda's plans, which we talked about briefly yesterday after they were released. The article also included two quotes that were particularly good from the congresswoman:

The United States needs to "get a NAFTA that works or get the hell out of NAFTA," she said during "The Jim Cates Show" on KMAJ 1440-AM radio.

[...]

"I'm not against trade, I'm just against trade that gives America the short end of the stick," Boyda said.

Opposing NAFTA doesn't have anything to do with being against trade, folks. It does, however, have to do with protecting American jobs, and making sure our trade policy works for the little guy at home, rather than the big guy in the other country.

So, the New York Times can be however dramatic as they please- regardless of the nominee, Nancy Boyda's work on immigration and trade policy is exactly what her district wants. She's done more in a year than Jim Ryun did in 10.

Boyda Embraced by Republicans

Ally Klimkoski is a founding blogger from Everyday Citizen, Future Majority, and authors the Youth Guide to Politics for WiretapMag and The Nation. She is a well known national progressive blogger that lives here in Kansas and often advocates for Rep. Boyda's policies. We are excited to have her guest post here today.

Republicans are having a political orgy today talking about the New York Times piece that addressed all of the problems Rep. Boyda might face if Sen. Hillary Clinton is the democratic nominee for president.

I think its nice to let them have their time to play and declare victory before any votes are cast. As my momma would say in that sweet southern way of hers, bless their hearts....

What is neglected by media and clearly all of the conservatives drooling over this is that the article talks about how embraced Rep. Boyda is by Kansas Republicans.

"The mere mention of Mrs. Clinton’s name as a potential president drew a strong reaction from Tom Doperalski, an official in rural Pottawatomie County who had just finished meeting with Ms. Boyda about how to contend with growth issues arising out of the increase of troops stationed at nearby Fort Riley.

“The people I talk to, they just cannot imagine a worse scenario,” said Mr. Doperalski, a Republican who heads the county commission. “They just don’t think she can be trusted.”

Its no shock that Hillary Clinton is not a friend to Kansas Republicans, and I think its safe to say that they aren't interested in sharing a pizza with her any time soon. But these same Republicans, the ones who don't work for the Kansas GOP, or for the Jenkins or Ryun campaigns, still address their admiration of the dedication Boyda has for the KS-2.

Greg Unruh, the administrator of a hospital that she visited the other day, said, “I may be of a different political party, but she has done a good job as a freshman.”

And Mr. Doperalski, the county commissioner, as well as his two fellow Republicans on the three-member board, says any antipathy toward Mrs. Clinton will not necessarily mean enmity toward Ms. Boyda. “She will be judged on the job she does,” he said.

So... Republicans seem to like her. At least the ones that aren't right wing nutjobs.

Also, notable is the commentary on Media Matters who mentions that none of the democrats quoted in the piece say that Clinton would be a problem for Boyda:

"In his article, headlined "Vulnerable Democrats See Fates Tied to Clinton," Hulse quoted only three Democrats: Reps. Nancy Boyda (KS) and Chris Van Hollen (MD), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson. However, none as quoted supported Hulse's assertion that "some Democrats in Republican-leaning states and Congressional districts ... fear ... sharing the ticket" with Clinton.

[...]

"By contrast, Hulse quoted two Republicans asserting that Clinton would hurt Boyda's chances of re-election if she were the Democratic nominee: Patrick Leopold, campaign manager for Kansas state treasurer Lynn Jenkins, who is running against Boyda, and Pottawatomie County Commissioner Tom Doperalski. But while Doperalski stated that "[t]he people I talk to, they just cannot imagine a worse scenario" for Boyda than having Clinton as the Democratic nominee, Hulse also reported that Doperalski "says any antipathy toward Mrs. Clinton will not necessarily mean enmity toward Ms. Boyda."

Rep. Boyda has done a spectacular job declaring her loyalty not to a party but to her district. With her recent war against NAFTA as an indicator and Jim "Gone Washington" Ryun himself as the contrast, it isn't hard to see why everyone, regardless of party is grateful for Boyda's leadership.

As a refresher - Weekends Boyda Spends in Kansas: All but a few. Weekends Ryun spent in Kansas: Few if at all. Of course one weekend it was because she was in Iraq with the troops... What about landmark Legislation passed by Boyda in just one year rivals work done by both of her opponents? And, how many times has Lynn or Jim been on Lou Dobbs talking about stopping Illegal Immigrants?? And at the end of the day Rep. Boyda doesn't live in a 7br house or a house that was a gift from Tom Delay and Jack Abramoff.



Special Note to Conservatives: Take some time to talk to your own voters about what's important to them. You might be surprised how out of touch you really are.

Nancy Boyda's bold new bill: Either fix NAFTA or withdraw

In a major policy announcement today, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda announced bold new legislation that could result in the United State of America's withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement.

According to her official web site, the bill, named the NAFTA Accountability Act, "would require the United States to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). If the negotiations do not produce specific, concrete improvements, the bill calls for America to withdraw from NAFTA."

Honestly, I can't say it any better than Boyda's press release, which is one of the most powerful her office has sent out to date:

Rep. Boyda said, "Practically every politician in Washington has said that NAFTA has its share of problems. Even supporters admit that NAFTA is deeply flawed, but nobody has had the guts to fix the problem."

The bill finds that, since NAFTA was enacted, the American trade deficit with Mexico and Canada has climbed to $919 billion. Outsourcing has devastated the U.S. manufacturing base and cost America over a million living-wage jobs, and poor border security has contributed to the illegal importation of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana from Mexico.

Rep. Boyda's legislation requires the President to renegotiate NAFTA to correct trade deficits, currency distortions, and agricultural provisions. If five specific conditions are not certified by the end of 2008, the bill calls for the United States to withdraw from NAFTA:

(1) gains in U.S. jobs and living standards (by the Secretary of Labor)

(2) increased U.S. domestic manufacturing (by the Secretary of Commerce)

(3) improved health and environmental standards, with respect to food imports and to U.S.-Mexico border areas (by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the Food and Drug Administration, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency)

(4) reduced flow of illegal drugs from Mexico and Canada (by the Attorney General)

(5) Mexican democracy and human freedoms (by the President)

The bill also expresses the sense of the Congress that, until these conditions are met, the president should not engage in negotiations to expand NAFTA to include other countries, and fast-track authority should not be renewed with respect to the approval of any such NAFTA expansion.

Rep. Boyda added, "NAFTA is dragging down our economy, weakening our borders, and devastating our manufacturers. After fourteen years, it's time to either fix NAFTA or get the heck out of it."

You don't expect groundbreaking legislation from freshmen members of Congress, and you don't expect freshmen to be nearly this brave or nearly this bold. Nancy Boyda isn't an ordinary freshmen congressperson, and we're lucky we have elected someone with the "guts" to tackle the horrendous problem NAFTA has become.

UPDATE: An excellent post from our good friend Ally over on Everyday Citizen goes even farther into the effects of NAFTA and of Boyda's proposal.