Notes from the Senate Finance Committee's hearing on whether or not to recommend CAFTA to the full Senate:
The Senate Finance Committee met this morning from 9-10am and then suspended the session to begin a hearing on Medicaid. The Committee will take up CAFTA again tomorrow morning from 9-10am.
The following Senators were present and spoke: Grassley, Baucus, Lott, Conrad, Crapo, Wyden, Hatch, Bunning and Thomas. It was clear that they are waiting for a deal on sugar to proceed with a vote. In terms of statements on other issues, no one really said anything new. It seemed pretty clear a vote hinges on a deal that Thomas is helping to broker. Crapo took less than a minute to state that he appreciates the Administration working with them and will continue to do so.
It came out that the first meeting between the Administration and Big Sugar took place last night. So, it seems as if the Committee is waiting for a deal to be brokered before voting. Thomas repeated that he would not be able to vote yes if the sugar issue is not resolved. He said the Secretary of Agriculture has come up with a plan that has merit, but it is only short term (to the end of the Farm Bill). He said he is committed to working out the issue, and implied that he would try to get Big Sugar to agree to the Secretary's plan if an additional offer for the long term were included. He complained about having to move ahead with the CAFTA process before having a chance to see this negotiation through.
Grassley joined Thomas in asking the sugar industry to consider the Secretary's offer. He also started out the hearing by stating that he wanted to make sure that all Members had the chance to be heard, to ask questions and to debate as they felt necessary. This seems to leave open the possibility that if there is not a sugar deal by tomorrow, Senate Finance will extend its debate and reconvene on yet another day.
It seems that both Thomas and Crapo are now in play on the sugar issue, and that some deal may be reached this week. Bingaman did not show up at all, but with Thomas and Crapo, his vote would not be needed to pass CAFTA in Committee.
Notes prepared by Stephanie Weinberg, Trade Policy Advisor at Oxfam America
