Peters Responds to Knollenberg's Support for Colombia Trade Deal

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Peters Responds to Knollenberg's Support for Colombia Trade Deal

In the Capitol Hill newspaper Congress Daily yesterday, Rep. Joe Knollenberg expressed his absolute support for President Bush's proposed Colombia Free Trade Agreement, saying: "The Colombia bill, for example, that's another one that's hanging out there, I'd vote for that one very easily. That does level the playing field."

Congressional candidate Gary Peters today issued a strongly-worded statement in response to Knollenberg's pledge of support for the trade deal that many independent observers have criticized for its failure to protect American workers from unfair labor practices.

"This is just another example of how Congressman Knollenberg is out of touch with hard-working families here in Michigan. He continues to support President Bush's unfair and unenforceable trade agreements even while Michigan workers are losing their jobs to countries with inadequate safety, labor, and environmental standards," said Gary Peters, a former businessman with over twenty years of experience as a vice president at two major investment firms. "What Michigan needs right now is real action to create jobs, not more of the same failed policies of the past eight years."

According to statistics from the International Trade Union Confederation reported in the Los Angeles Times, only 14 people have been sentenced as a result of 1,100 cases of documented union murders in Colombia over the past twelve years.

Knollenberg's comments came in reference to another controversial trade deal, the proposed Korea Free Trade Agreement, which would further damage the already struggling American automotive industry. Were he to oppose the Korea FTA, it would be one of the first times that Knollenberg has not supported a free trade agreement.

From NAFTA and CAFTA onward, Knollenberg has voted in lockstep with President Bush to support unfair, free trade agreements. Already this year, he has voted to allow the President to move forward with the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, despite inadequate enforcement, lax environmental standards, and nearly non-existent labor protections.

In recent years, Knollenberg has also supported free trade agreements with countries including Oman, Peru, Chile, and Singapore. (HR 3688, Vote #1060, 11/08/07; HR5684, Vote #392, 7/20/06; HR 2738, Vote #436, 7/24/03; HR 2739, Vote #432, 7/24/03)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Economic Policy Institute, as of 2005 Michigan had lost 63,148 jobs as a result of NAFTA alone. [http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib214]

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