13. Using the example of the China Trade Act of 2000 (page 262 in textbook), summarize the efforts by both sides to pass or kill this bill. Have we seen any similar actions this fall during the health care reform debate? If so, explain.
McLeod Brown 12-2-2010 AP US Government C Bell Congress Question #13 The China Trade Act of 2000 was a highly controversial topic at the beginning of the century. The Trade Act of 1974 restricted the “most favored” trade status to communist nations on a year by year basis. China was viewed as a significant market for U.S. goods. With that being said, President Bill Clinton led a coalition that motioned for the dropping of the “year to year” title once China joined the World Trade Organization. In order for this to occur, however, a new act of Congress would have to happen. The ironic fact of this ordeal is that it allied President Clinton with several Republicans who wanted the same. Republicans believed opening Chinese markets and removing barriers to service providers would benefit their biggest financial and political supporters. The Democrats and unions feared further loss of jobs to foreign countries. Immediately after China became a member of the World Trade Organization in late 1999 and early 2000, Clinton began traveling the U.S. in an attempt to gain support for the legislation. Additionally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable launched a $10 million ad campaign, the largest ever for a single legislative issue. The proposed legislation was officially introduced to the Senate on March 23, 2000. It was then introduced to the House of Representatives on May 15, 2000. It was then referred to the House Ways and Means Committee shortly after and a mark-up session was held on May 17. It was reported out of committee the same day by a vote of 34-4. Clinton’s administration pressed that the bill would mean jobs for Americans and stability in Asia. His party got Chinese dissidents to say that the bill would improve human rights in China. Organized labor was the bill’s biggest opponent. Vice President Al Gore broke ranks with the president and stated that the bill would only serve to move American jobs to China. House debate on the bill began on May 24, 2000. The bill passed on a vote of 237-197. It was then passed to the Senate on May 25. Their debate began on July 26. Cloture was invoked by a vote of 86-12. On September 19, 2000, the bill passed without amendment on an 83-15 vote. President Clinton signed the bill on October 10, 2000.
Note the various "factions" that were for or against the China Trade Act of 2000. Ten years later, who was correct, Republicans or Al Gore?
After the Ways and Means Committee the bill had to go through the Rules Committee. It decided that the bill was closed to new amendments and was limited to 3 hours debate. The House passed the bill but some Senators threatened to filibuster. No amendments were added to the bill in the Senate so when it passed 85-13, it did NOT need to go to a Conference Committee.
McLeod Brown
ReplyDelete12-2-2010
AP US Government C Bell
Congress Question #13
The China Trade Act of 2000 was a highly controversial topic at the beginning of the century. The Trade Act of 1974 restricted the “most favored” trade status to communist nations on a year by year basis. China was viewed as a significant market for U.S. goods. With that being said, President Bill Clinton led a coalition that motioned for the dropping of the “year to year” title once China joined the World Trade Organization. In order for this to occur, however, a new act of Congress would have to happen. The ironic fact of this ordeal is that it allied President Clinton with several Republicans who wanted the same. Republicans believed opening Chinese markets and removing barriers to service providers would benefit their biggest financial and political supporters. The Democrats and unions feared further loss of jobs to foreign countries.
Immediately after China became a member of the World Trade Organization in late 1999 and early 2000, Clinton began traveling the U.S. in an attempt to gain support for the legislation. Additionally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable launched a $10 million ad campaign, the largest ever for a single legislative issue. The proposed legislation was officially introduced to the Senate on March 23, 2000. It was then introduced to the House of Representatives on May 15, 2000. It was then referred to the House Ways and Means Committee shortly after and a mark-up session was held on May 17. It was reported out of committee the same day by a vote of 34-4. Clinton’s administration pressed that the bill would mean jobs for Americans and stability in Asia. His party got Chinese dissidents to say that the bill would improve human rights in China.
Organized labor was the bill’s biggest opponent. Vice President Al Gore broke ranks with the president and stated that the bill would only serve to move American jobs to China. House debate on the bill began on May 24, 2000. The bill passed on a vote of 237-197. It was then passed to the Senate on May 25. Their debate began on July 26. Cloture was invoked by a vote of 86-12. On September 19, 2000, the bill passed without amendment on an 83-15 vote. President Clinton signed the bill on October 10, 2000.
Note the various "factions" that were for or against the China Trade Act of 2000. Ten years later, who was correct, Republicans or Al Gore?
ReplyDeleteAfter the Ways and Means Committee the bill had to go through the Rules Committee. It decided that the bill was closed to new amendments and was limited to 3 hours debate. The House passed the bill but some Senators threatened to filibuster. No amendments were added to the bill in the Senate so when it passed 85-13, it did NOT need to go to a Conference Committee.