WASHINGTON -- Ten Southern lawmakers who haven't decided whether they'll support the Central American Free Trade Agreement on July 19 asked key agriculture groups in their states for more input.
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) circulated the letter among Southern Republicans, who could be a pivotal voting block for the deal supported by President Bush. Several other Southerners who are on the fence declined to sign but are extremely interested in the response from the agriculture groups, Kingston said.
The Senate approved the deal earlier in July, but its prospects in the House remain unclear.
"We don't feel like our groups who are pro-CAFTA have worked it as well as the groups that are anti-CAFTA," Kingston said. "It's one thing to come up here and see a bunch of silk-stocking congressmen say this is good for jobs back home, but it's another thing to go out and lobby in the streets."
The other lawmakers who signed the letter were Tom Price and Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia; Roger Wicker of Mississippi; Ric Keller of Florida; Sue Myrick of North Carolina; Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee; and John Carter, Louie Gohmert and Mike Conaway of Texas.
The letter specifically asks agriculture groups that are supporting the trade deal, including farm bureaus and cotton, cattle, poultry and beef organizations, to have concerned constituents contact their congressional offices.
"One letter or phone call from a sincere non-Washington farmer is worth 10 visits from a lobbyist," Kingston said.
Blackburn said she would like to support a free trade deal with Central America but isn't yet convinced the benefits for Tennessee would outweigh the drawbacks.
"There seems to be this disconnect in the farm community between the organization and what they were telling us and what I was hearing from my constituents on the ground," Blackburn said.
Price said part of the dilemma across much of the South is largely due to perception. The North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is often blamed for massive job losses in the region -- especially in the textile industry. But CAFTA is far more limited in scope, he said, and many agriculture groups suggest it would benefit their industry.
"There's a lot of finger pointing going around," Price said. "But the line has been that it would stand a much better chance if it didn't rhyme with NAFTA."
Keith Gray, director of national affairs for the Alabama Farmers Federation, said the organization continues to work on the handful of undecided lawmakers in the delegation.
"We've certainly let them know our support," Gray said.
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