Background on The Trade Issue: MCCain is Out of Touch                                                                                            

While John McCain has unsuccessfully tried to distance himself from Bush on numerous issues, on the issue of trade, he has embraced him wholeheartedly. Even as McCain has acknowledged that trade agreements have cost America jobs, he has opposed funding for job training programs to help American workers adapt to the changing global workforce.  

MCCAIN SUPPORTS THE BUSH TRADE AGENDA 

• McCain: Bush Is “Right On Trade. … Absolutely.” “John Harwood:  It sounds as if you're saying that on the biggest issues, taxes, trade, regulation, that President Bush has gotten it right.  Is that what your view is? … SEN. MCCAIN:  On trade, of course, I'm a free trader.  I think he was right on trade.  … On trade, absolutely, and I will defend free trade forever…” [CNBC Interview with John McCain, Federal News Service transcript, 4/15/08] 

MCCAIN HAS BEEN A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS 

• McCain Said “I Would Negotiate A Free Trade Agreement With Almost Any Country.” “If I were president, I would negotiate free trade agreement with almost any country willing to negotiate fairly with us." [McCain, National Press Club, 5/20/99] 

• McCain Supported NAFTA and CAFTA. John McCain supported both the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). [1993 Senate Vote 395, 11/20/93; 2005 Senate Vote 170, 6/30/05]  

·         McCain On How He Knows NAFTA was a “Good Idea”: “All You Have To Do Is Go To Detroit And See The Thousands Of Trucks Lined Up Everyday Or Go To Our Southern Border.”  When asked by the Des Moines Register whether NAFTA was a good idea, John McCain responded: “I know NAFTA was a good idea. It's created millions of jobs and it has helped the economies of all three of these nations.  All you have to do is go to Detroit and see the thousands of trucks lined up everyday or go to our southern border.” [Des Moines Register video, 11/27/07, http://youtube.com/watch?v=86QwI-6TWic]  

• McCain Supported Permanent Normalized Trade Relations For China. John McCain voted to authorize extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the People's Republic of China, and to establish a framework for relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China. [2000 Senate Vote 251, 9/19/00]  

• McCain Offers Support for Columbia Free Trade Agreement.  In April 2008, John McCain’s issued a statement supporting the Columbia Free Trade Agreement: “Today, President Bush signed a letter of transmission that will formally send the United States-Colombia Free Trade Agreement to Congress for approval. I strongly support this vital trade pact and urge my colleagues to support its swift passage.”  [Sen. McCain press release, 4/7/08]  

• McCain Also Supports The Proposed Trade Deal With South Korea. “In recent months Mr. McCain has expressed support for the pending free-trade agreement with South Korea, the world's 12th-largest economy and the seventh-largest trading partner of the United States.” [New York Times, 3/16/08]  

McCain Has Acknowledged That Trade Agreements Have Cost America Jobs, But Has Opposed Increasing Funds for Job Retraining Programs 

·         McCain: “There Have Been Winners And Losers And That’s The Problem But Free Trade Is Something I Think Is Vital To The Future Of America. … Have People Lost Jobs? Yes, They Have.” When asked by the Des Moines Register about NAFTA, John McCain acknowledged that Americans have lost jobs: “I know NAFTA was a good idea. It's created millions of jobs and it has helped the economies of all three of these nations.  All you have to do is go to Detroit and see the thousands of trucks lined up every day or go to our southern border.  There have been winners and losers and that’s the problem but free trade is something I think is vital to the future of America. As a free trader, I will open up every market in the world to Iowa agricultural products. Have people lost jobs? Yes, they have. And they’re gonna lose jobs although the overall gain in jobs has been be pretty impressive.” [Des Moines Register video, 11/27/07, http://youtube.com/watch?v=86QwI-6TWic 

• McCain Acknowledges Trade Agreements Have Left People Behind, Still Believes Agreements Have “Been Very Successful.”  “McCain has said the trade pacts have been a net positive. ‘Overall, the free-trade agreements have been very successful, and I can prove that with economic data on job creation,’ McCain said in an interview Monday with the Journal Sentinel. But he added, ‘It has left people behind, and we must give those people and others opportunities.’”  [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/16/08]
• ·         McCain Voted Against Establishing An Emergency Assistance Grant Program For Community Colleges That Provide Training Programs For Displaced Workers.  In 2002, John McCain voted against a proposal, sponsored by Senator John Edwards, which included funding for an emergency assistance grant program for community colleges that provide training programs for displaced workers.  As Congressional Quarterly noted, the amendment was “aimed at helping textile and apparel employees thrown out of work as a result of foreign competition. The amendment would make concerns of the textile industry the subject of a fast-track negotiating objective. The Edwards amendment also would expand Trade Adjustment Assistance for textile workers and set up a federal job training grant for community colleges in regions hit hard by foreign competition.” [2002 Senate Vote 111, 5/15/02; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 5/15/02]
• ·         McCain Voted Against Job-Retraining for Workers Displaced by International Trade Agreements.  John McCain voted against an amendment to maintain the worker retraining assistance part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which provides job retraining for workers laid off as a direct result of an international trade program such as NAFTA.  The amendment was to a bill that would repeal these training services but would retain the income assistance part of the program.  The amendment was passed on a 52 to 45 vote. [1995 Senate Vote 482, 10/10/9
•          McCain Voted Against An Amendment To Provide Assistance, Including Training, To Service And High-Tech Workers Whose Jobs Move Overseas. John McCain voted against an amendment that provides that existing Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits be made available to service and high-tech workers; clarifies that TAA benefits are available to workers whose company moves overseas to any other country; increases training funds to match anticipated enrollment; increases health care subsidy available to TAA beneficiaries from 65 percent to 75 percent; and provides economic adjustment plan assistance to communities that have significant trade-related layoffs. [2004 Senate Vote  80, 5/4/04]
•          McCain Voted Against Low-Interest Loans For Trade-Affected Workers To Assist With Job Training, Mortgage Payments.  John McCain voted against an amendment establishing a pilot program that provides low-interest loans to workers in job training or job assistance programs to enable individuals to continue making mortgage payments on their primary residence.  [2002 Senate Vote 119, 5/21/02]