Progress Illinois

If the Democrats decide to push for a second stimulus package during the upcoming lame-duck session, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and company might throw in a few sweeteners to build bipartisan support. While the House Republican proposal amounts to nothing more than an ineffective tax-cut giveaway, President Bush and congressional leaders have hinted they might accept a Democratic deal if the stalled free trade agreements with Panama, South Korea, and Colombia were approved as part of the package. Here's White House press secretary Dana Perino yesterday:

"We have some things that we think would stimulate the economy that they could do right away, such as vote yes or no on the free trade agreements that we have in front of them, especially the Colombia free trade agreement," she said.

That's not sitting too well with Rep. Phil Hare, a consistent critic of the Colombian deal. Here's his response in an email statement to supporters:

"The President's offer to grant Democrats his support for an economic stimulus package in exchange for the Colombia FTA is unacceptable and should be rejected.

"I continue to support efforts by this Congress to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and put the American people back to work. But tying an economic stimulus package to the Colombia FTA would be at best counterproductive and at worst downright harmful.

"At a time when our economy is hemorrhaging jobs, we should be forging a new direction on trade that protects American workers, not repeating the mistakes of the past.

"Furthermore, Colombia's record of violence against labor organizers is deplorable, with murders actually on the rise in 2008. Our steadfast commitment to basic human rights can never be used as a bargaining chip.

"I am all for compromise. But given the flawed nature of the Colombia FTA, our opposition should be non-negotiable."