Still No Assembly Decision on DR-CAFTA

Despite President Bolaños' promises to his sponsor, George W. Bush, to pass the Dominican Republic - Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), the National Assembly has not voted on the agreement or even set a date to debate it. The FSLN has indicated it will vote against the unfair agreement and the Constitutional Liberal Party is perfectly happy to embarrass Bolaños by waiting until the US Congress acts on it. On May 9 and 10, the five Central American presidents and the president of the DR are barnstorming US cities, lobbying for DR-CAFTA at the behest of the US Chamber of Commerce. President Bush will receive them on May 11 as part of a public relations campaign for Congressional passage. Vote counters say Bush is at least 50 votes short of a majority in the House of Representatives, but activists should not sit back now when for the first time we are close to defeating a "free" trade agreement. Please call your representatives once again to let them know that despite the visit of the servile presidents of Central America, the people who elected them believe that CAFTA will be an economic disaster for them.