Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
May 27, 2000
SECTION: TRADE; Pg. 1684; Vol. 32, No. 22
LENGTH: 434 words
HEADLINE:
House OKs PNTR; Senate Vote Looms
BYLINE: Richard E. Cohen/National Journal
BODY:
By a
wider-than-expected margin, the House on May 24
approved President Clinton's
proposal to grant permanent normal
trade relations to China by a 237-197
vote. Supporting the
measure were 164 Republicans-a number that even House
Majority
Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said "surprised" him-and 73 Democrats.
Proponents on both sides of the aisle said that they picked up
vital
support for the bill because of the addition of provisions,
which were
crafted by Reps. Sander M. Levin, D-Mich., and Douglas
K. Bereuter, R-Neb.,
that would create a new congressionally
driven process to oversee the
Chinese government's human rights
behavior. Also earning credit for the
victory was Rep. Charles B.
Rangel, D-N.Y., the Ways and Means Committee's
ranking member. He
provided political cover for several Democrats, including
those
on his panel, from his home state, and from the Congressional
Black Caucus, with his vocal support. But the outcome left many
House
Democrats bitter and despondent over what they termed the
undue influence of
corporate lobbying, which they predicted would
further alienate
rank-and-file voters from government. "The
disparity between the rich and
poor in this nation will grow,"
said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio. "People
in this country will
organize again ... and begin to vote their economic
interests."
Despite the Democratic splits and the unhappiness of organized
labor, the outcome was a major victory for Clinton, who invested
countless hours lobbying for individual votes and staked the
final year
of his presidency on the proposal's success. Praising
the outcome in a Rose
Garden statement, Clinton said the United
States would have more influence
over China "with an outstretched
hand than with a clenched fist." But
contrary to PNTR supporters'
earlier expectations that
Senate approval would be quick and
routine, action in that chamber may take
a month or longer.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said that he
will
seek the Finance Committee's views on the human rights provisions
added by the House; that committee approved a stripped-down
PNTR
measure on May 17. Although final congressional
approval this
summer remains likely, Senate foes from both parties will
raise
many of the same issues that dogged the measure in the House.
Some
Senators might also see the opportunity to raise unrelated
issues.
Supporters of PNTR are anxious to avoid any Senate
changes
to the House-approved version, because that would return
the matter to the
unpredictable House.
LOAD-DATE: May 29, 2000
