New CAFTA Damage Report Tracks Results of CAFTA Vote in Key Districts

Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch has announced the launch of the CAFTA Damage Report, an on-going series of reports that track the consequences of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in districts where members of Congress voted for the agreement despite opposition from constituents or their own misgivings.

In a blow to the Illinois working families who campaigned to put her in office in 2004 and in contradiction to a 2004 campaign pledge to oppose the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Rep. Melissa Bean (D Ill.-8) voted in favor of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which eked through the House of Representatives on July 27 by a 217-215 vote. Bean's flip-flop has the citizens of Illinois' 8th district worried that their Congresswoman is either unable or unwilling to stand up for their concerns.

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS RELEASES

Sep. 29 - Spotlight on Illinois Rep. Bean's CAFTA Vote as New Government Data Show Continuing Loss of Manufacturing Jobs

Sep. 13 - Spotlight Back on Illinois Rep. Bean's Vote in Favor of CAFTA as Government Data Released Today Show a Record Monthly U.S. Trade Deficit

Aug. 25 - CAFTA Damage Report - With Illinois Jobs at Risk, Freshman Rep. Melissa Bean Flip-Flops from Campaign Pledge to Oppose NAFTA Expansions, Casts a Deciding CAFTA Vote

NEWS ARTICLES ON BEAN'S BAD CAFTA VOTE
"CAFTA Vote Outs 'Bush Democrats,'" The Nation, August 28, 2005.
"Democracy Sold Out - CAFTA Approved by Pork and a Hill of Beans," CommonDreams.org, July 28, 2005.
"Labor Won't Forget the CAFTA Dems," Capital Times, July 28, 2005.
"Union chief rips Bean for backing trade pact," Chicago Sun-Times, July 29, 2005.
"Unions Say They Will Punish Democrats For Supporting DR-CAFTA Deal," Inside US Trade, July 29, 2005.
"Bean loses 'Person of Year' award over CAFTA vote," Associated Press, August 4, 2005.
"Bean's Vote on CAFTA sparks AFL-CIO reaction," Barrington Courier-Review, August 11, 2005.
"House Democrats under pressure after votes for DR-CAFTA," Inside US Trade, August 12, 2005.
"Bean's Vote Upsets Union," Palatine Countryside (Ill.), August 18, 2005.