Three out of Four Voters Oppose CAFTA

The WiscoTrader

Providing fair trade news and views you won't find in mainstream media.

March 8th, 2005 -- Issue 5 -- House will take up CAFTA

The Good: Poll Shows Americans Oppose CAFTA

"Would you favor or oppose CAFTA if it reduces prices you pay as a consumer but eliminates jobs for U.S. workers?" A whopping 74% of voters polled said they would oppose the agreement; 17% were in support. The survey also found that 51% oppose the CAFTA trade agreement altogether and only 32% supports it. Anti-CAFTA sentiment crosses party lines, with Republicans (47 to 37 percent) joining Democrats (53 to 31 percent) and Independents (53 to 32 percent) in opposition to the agreement. Overall opposition to CAFTA is stronger in red states (53 to 31 percent) than in blue states (48 to 34 percent). More polling results at www.americansforfairtrade.org

The Bad: GOP supporters say House will take up CAFTA

The GOP "point man" on CAFTA, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) told a Washington D.C. forum that "we will have the votes in the House". Other House Republicans say it is "too early" to talk vote counts since many members are still sitting on the fence. Brady predicted the vote "within the next two to three months," saying they will need the votes of 20 to 25 Democrats to approve the agreement, Washington Trade Daily reports (3-4).

The Ugly 435 jobs at Lands' End cut

Cross Plains Village President Richard Anderson said rumors of the closing have been circulating for six months. "Some sort of downsizing seemed imminent when Sears bought them and the pending merger with Kmart," he said. Anderson said he was also told by a Lands' End executive that the call center jobs were being outsourced, a charge that company officials denied today. "If they are moving these jobs overseas that's pretty disturbing to me," Anderson said. If true, it's even more devastating for a company that boasts on its website: "It can still be done in America today".

If you would like to receive the WiscoTrader, send an email to

ÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ

To join the Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition, please contact Andy Gussert at

Past Newsletters can be found online at