Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

CAFTA vote has Davis in spotlight

If the Tampa Democrat sticks to his track record of supporting free trade, he's likely to anger his party.

By ANITA KUMAR
Published July 27, 2005

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Jim Davis voted in favor of a trade agreement with China in 2000. And for one with South American countries in 2002. And Singapore in 2003.

But he is undecided on CAFTA, a Central American trade agreement pushed by President Bush that has grown into one of this year's biggest political fights on Capitol Hill. The vote could come as early as today.

Davis is known for supporting free trade. On the other hand, the Tampa Democrat is running for governor, and his party and special interest groups are pressuring him to vote against the agreement.

"He wants to run statewide and he comes out for CAFTA? He won't be governor," said Lori Wallach, a former trade lawyer and CAFTA opponent who is director of Public Citizen Global Trade Watch.

CAFTA, or the U.S. Central American Free Trade Agreement, would create a free-trade zone between the United States and five Central American countries plus the Dominican Republic.

The White House negotiated CAFTA more than a year ago but did not send it to Congress right away because it didn't have the votes to pass the deal. The Senate passed the bill last month. It's unclear if it will pass the House.

After months of lobbying and negotiating, Davis won't commit to either side.

"I'm going to do what's right," he said in a recent interview. "I want to do what is best to help more Florida families get the types of jobs that put food on the table. This is about jobs."

CAFTA's economic impact would be much smaller than the 1994 NAFTA agreement with Mexico and Canada, but its ramifications are more political. While some opponents cite environmental and labor problems, others want to saddle Bush with the first major trade deal to be defeated in more than four decades.

About a dozen Democrats are expected to vote for the bill despite threats from the party and special interest groups to cut off donations to those who support it. Labor unions, environmentalists and textile companies are opposed.

On Tuesday, the day before the House is expected to debate the agreement, many votes were still up for grabs.

Some predicted early on that Davis would be one of the Democrats to vote for the agreement, because he supported so many other trade agreements since he was elected in 1996. But that's no longer certain.

Jennifer Duffy of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report in Washington said Davis could be pinned as a flip-flopper during the governor's race if he votes against CAFTA, and said he would be pressed to explain himself.

"It's not a good choice for him," she said.

Either way, he's got explaining to do.

"It's is the classic question of how do you inject ethics and principles into politics," said Charles Rose, a professor of professional responsibility and ethics at Stetson University College of Law.

Davis is a member of the House New Democrats Coalition, moderate traditionally probusiness and protrade House Democrats who said in May they will vote against CAFTA.

That will make it easier for him to oppose it.

In April, Davis said he was inclined to support CAFTA. It presents "important business opportunities" for Tampa Bay, he said. "It's important to have ties with these countries."

Two months later, Davis said he didn't know how he would vote.

"I am going to do what is good for Florida and what is good for the Tampa Bay area," he said. "It's ultimately about whether Florida families benefit."

Davis said he has concerns about how to make sure countries involved in CAFTA enforce its trade provisions.

"I'm going to do what I think is best," he said. "Each trade agreement has to be judged on its own. There has not been enough emphasis on enforcement."

Davis declined to talk about CAFTA Tuesday.

His spokeswoman Diane Pratt-Heavner said Davis was undecided, still "talking to people in the community" - and not feeling pressured.

Times researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this report.

[Last modified July 27, 2005, 01:06:11]