Ehlers Votes to “Help” Laid-off Workers, Fails to Mention his Record on Trade

On Wednesday, Grand Rapids area Representative Vern Ehlers released a statement touting his vote in favor of the Trade & Globalization Act of 2007. The Act passed by a vote of 264-15 with unanimous support from Michigan’s congressional delegation including Sander Levin who was a co-sponsor of the legislation.

The Trade & Globalization Act is designed to extend benefits to workers in the United States who have lost their jobs due to international trade agreements. The act specifically reauthorizes the Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. TAA services include income support, training, job search, health provisions, and reallocation allowances. With the passage of the Trade & Globalization Act, the TAA program is extended for five more years. Not surprisingly in the current anti-immigrant climate, undocumented workers are denied benefits under this extension.

In his press statement, Ehlers says:

“Given our state’s current economic struggles, this program is extremely important for so many workers who unexpectedly lose their job because of company downsizing due to competition from foreign imports… Congressman While the legislation that passed in the House today is not perfect, it will provide people with the tools they need to get back on their feet.”

Ehlers’ press statement, which is titled “Ehlers votes to help laid-off workers”, portrays Ehlers wanting to assist Michigan workers in a tough economy. He states that the Trade & Globalization Act is part of “a larger effort” to “support workers in Michigan’s difficult economy.” As part of this “larger effort,” Ehlers cites his role in adding a provision to the bill to authorize funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) that provides federal grants to small and mid-sized manufacturers. The statement ends with the assertion that “this program helps manufacturers keep operations in West Michigan” although no proof is offered.

While the statement somewhat convincingly portrays Ehlers as being concerned about the impacts of globalization, it ignores his own voting record. Much of that record has included support for neo-liberal trade agreements including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). At a town hall meeting in 2005, Ehlers asserted that trade agreements like NAFTA create jobs and that the agreement was good for Michigan (similar comments were made again in 2006). However, Michigan has lost over 46,000 jobs because of NAFTA, including several hundred in West Michigan.

Aside from NAFTA, which has a documented direct effect of job loss, Ehlers has supported other trade policies that fit into a neo-liberal framework. In 2005, Ehlers voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) which was modeled after NAFTA. In 2002, Ehlers voted for the Trade Act of 2002 that gave the President so-called “fast track” authority to negotiate trade deals that could only be voted up or down by Congress without amendments. In 2000, Ehlers voted to grant privileged trade status to China. Less than a year after he was elected, Ehlers voted in support of legislation implementing the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that created the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Ehlers voting record makes it clear why he voted for the Trade & Globalization Act–the trade policies he has supported are responsible for much of the job loss addressed by the bill.

Related Posts:

1. Ehlers Votes in Favor of Peru FTA
2. Ehlers Speaks at Event Promoting Colombia Free Trade Agreement
3. Ehlers Votes to Override SCHIP Veto
4. Ehlers Votes against Revised SCHIP Legislation
5. Ehlers Votes Against Measure Aimed at Reducing College Costs

Tags: congress, globalization, grand rapids, michigan, trade, vern ehlers