SR8: Resolution Text

LRB-3072/2

PJD:kjf&jld:rs

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Senate RESOLUTION 8

June 9, 2005 - Introduced by Senators Reynolds, Lassa and Hansen. Referred to Committee on State and Federal Relations.

SR8,1,4 Relating to: urging Congress to not enter into the Central America Free Trade Agreement until the United States has a greater understanding of the impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization.

SR8,1,6 Whereas, the United States of America has always been the world leader in promoting free trade, which is the hallmark of our capitalistic society; and

SR8,1,8 Whereas, free trade only thrives when there is a level playing field of government regulation between trading partners; and

SR8,1,11 Whereas, the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was supposed to bring additional prosperity to the United States and level the playing field with Canada and Mexico, perpetuating free trade between our nations; and

SR8,1,14 Whereas, notwithstanding the good intentions of NAFTA, our nation has suffered the loss of almost 900,000 jobs due to NAFTA, many of them in the manufacturing sector; and

SR8,2,2 Whereas, the United States has gone from a trade surplus with Mexico prior to NAFTA to a substantial trade deficit; and

SR8,2,5 Whereas, the United States is a current member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has been called "The United Nations of World Trade"; and

SR8,2,7 Whereas, the United States consistently bows to the wishes of the WTO, allowing an international governing body to dictate what our laws should be; and

SR8,2,10 Whereas, both the WTO and NAFTA, through the use of trade tribunals, now claim sovereign authority to overrule decisions of American courts and make awards to foreign businesses for violations of trade agreements; and

SR8,2,13 Whereas, both the WTO and NAFTA shift power away from state and local governments towards international trade tribunals operating under international law, instead of domestic statutory or constitutional law; and

SR8,2,15 Whereas, the United States is considering entering into the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in 2005; and

SR8,2,19 Whereas, based upon the experience that the United States has had with NAFTA and the WTO, United States membership in the planned CAFTA would increase the exodus of manufacturing from Wisconsin and the United States to other countries; now, therefore, be it

SR8,2,23 Resolved by the senate, That the senate of the state of Wisconsin respectfully but firmly urges all members of the United States Congress to vote "no" on any agreement for the United States to enter into the CAFTA at this time; and, be it further

SR8,3,3 Resolved, That the senate of the state of Wisconsin urges the United States Congress to not enter into the CAFTA until the United States has a greater understanding of the impacts of NAFTA and the WTO; and, be it further

SR8,3,7 Resolved, That the senate chief clerk transmit a copy of this resolution to the majority leader of the United States senate, the speaker of the house of representatives of the United States, and the members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation.

SR8,3,8 (End)