The Custom-House

Today's McCain Amendment

Senators from the states in blue voted for John McCain's amendment to strip the "Buy America" provisions from the stimulus bill (GovTrack). 

The names of the Senators who supported the amendment are below the fold. 

It looks like every Democrat who voted, voted against it.  However, the Senate did vote to qualify its version of the "Buy America" provision so that it only applies when it is consistent with our international obligations - a big step forward; Senate Democrats who are sympathetic to liberal trading rules would have known that that option was available.

How does Becerra think U.S. trade policy should change?

Potential Obama US Trade Representative designate Xavier Becerra is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.  In July 2005, he signed a dissenting views section of the committee's report on the  Dominican Republic - Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) trade agreement. 

Simon Lester, at the International Economic Law and Policy Blog, suggests that the dissent may provide some good insights into Becerra's thinking about trade: Becerra's Trade Views. 

Here are some extracts and key issues from Lester's post:

Suppose Rangel Goes?

Charles Rangel.  Source: Bloomberg.

Charles Rangel (D-NY), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, faces an ethics challenge: Pelosi faces pressure to replace Rangel.  Pelosi says she won't take any steps until she sees an ethics committee report due by January 3.

Congressional support for trade took a hit in November

Trade didn't do too well in November's Congressional races, reports Brad Haynes Trade Deals Will Face More Critics in Congress:

Changes in the House Democratic Leadership

The House Democrats have selected their leadership for the next Congress.  The impact of personnel changes on support for trade in the leadership is unclear and may be a wash: a strong trade moderate has moved on, but another trade moderate, and someone who has quite a good record on trade, moved up.  A candidate for one office who had reportedly made her concerns about trade part of her platform was beaten. 

Do House Moderates Lose When Emanuel Moves?

Mike Soraghan reports that some are concerned that Rahm Emanuel's move from the House of Representatives to the White House will remove a powerful centrist voice from the House Democratic leadership: Dem's worry they'll miss bad cop Emanuel:

Waxman and Dingell

On November 5th, liberal Democrat Henry Waxman of California launched a campaign to unseat 82 year old Democrat John Dingell of Michigan as chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  Dingell has been the champion of the Detroit auto companies, Waxman is a committed environmentalist. 

John Broder profiles the contest in yesterday's New York Times: A Power Duo, Dingells Battle on Two Fronts.

The Energy and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over trade issues.  Moreover, any bailout for the auto industry next year will go through this committee.  Subsidies may trigger trade concerns: The Auto Bailout and Trade Tensions (although Simon Lester, the author of this post, isn't sure that proving a violation of WTO rules will be easy).