Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
May 13, 2000
SECTION: TRADE; Pg. 1519; Vol. 32, No. 20
LENGTH: 215 words
HEADLINE:
Lobbying Intensifies on China PNTR
BYLINE: Keith Koffler/CongressDaily
BODY:
Hoping to
convince members of Congress that they would be
in good company if they
support permanent normal trade relations
for China, the White House staged a
rally this week with dozens
of heavyweights who helped mold the foreign
policy successes of
the past 50 years. Former Presidents Ford and Carter,
several
former Secretaries of State, including Henry Kissinger and James
Baker, and a host of other luminaries joined President Clinton
and Vice
President Al Gore in support of the measure. Gore
offered a strong
endorsement, apparently shedding his fear of
antagonizing his labor allies
who oppose PNTR. Meanwhile, vote-
counters on Capitol Hill
discussed how to use "parallel
legislation" crafted by Reps. Sander M.
Levin, D-Mich., and
Douglas K. Bereuter, R-Neb., to gain new support for
PNTR before
the House vote during the week of May 22. Such
legislation is
designed to link human rights and other conditions on Chinese
behavior to PNTR. But House Majority Whip Tom DeLay,
R-Texas,
indicated this week that rounding up support was tough; his count
shows Republicans more than 30 votes short of the 150 they hope
to
provide. CongressDaily's ongoing survey showed a virtual dead
heat between
House supporters and opponents.
LOAD-DATE: May 15, 2000
