March 2007 Archives

CNN's Lou Dobbs testified before Rep. Brad Sherman's House foreign affairs subcommittee today, ostensibly about trade. But the talk show personality quickly turned the hearing to his favorite topic: illegal immigration.

Asked by one lawmaker to chime in on what Congress shoudl do to reform immigration laws, Dobbs _ who spends much of his show opining about what Congress should do on immigration _ drew laughs when he obligingly replied, "Well, thank you for hte opportunity to offer my views on that."

His message: cheap labor may be good for business, but it's not good for the country.

"I don't see anywhere in the country where it says that what is good for business is good for America,'' Dobbs said. By not blocking illegal immigration, he contended, "We are permitting the destruction of the world's richest democracy."

The panel eventually got back on track to fast track. That is, fast-track trade authority which allows the president to negotiate trade agreements that Congress can either sign off on or vote down, but not change. The president's authority is set to expire this month, and some say Democrats could renew it if the White House agrees to labor and environmental standards for future trade agreements.

Sherman said he opposes renewing it.

"My fear is that we will put some lipstick on that pig and pass it," Sherman said. He said he found Tuesday's hearing "eye opening."

"Before the hearing I thought NAFTA and CAFTA and SHAFTA were bad for America. Now I think they are very bad for America,'' he said.

Rep. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte is renewing her effort to address the unsolved murders of more than 2,000 women and girls in Guatemala dating back to 2001.

On Tuesday the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution Solis authored condemning the murders and offering condolences to the families. Solis said she hopes it brings attention to the crimes, many of which have gone unsolved and unpunished, and spark international pressure.

Families of victims deserve honest answers and investigations into the murders of their wives, mothers and daughters murders, instead of being ignored and intimidated,” Solis said.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at raising awareness about human trafficking.

Schiff's resolution, while non-binding, expresses Congress committment to combatting the crime. Globally, officials estimate that 600,000 to 800,000 men women and children are trafficked across international borders each year. Of those, approximately 80 percent are women and girls, and more than half are minors.

CNN's Lou Dobbs and Former U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills will appear Wednesday before Rep. Brad Sherman's Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. Sherman invited the two to discuss the looming U.S. trade deficit and, he said, ``highlight how trade policy has failed to advance the interests of hte working and middle class.''

The hearing is Sherman's first since being named chair of the subcommittee. Sherman said Tuesday he wanted to debut with trade because "fast track is coming up fast,'' referring to the president's trade authority, set to expire this month.

Fireworks expected between Dobbs and Hill?

``Two enter. One leaves,'' Sherman joked.

With Democrats in such high demand on Capitol Hill these days, it's a wonder aides stay in one place for more than a week. The newest moves come from the office of Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, who in one month has lost his press secretary and his chief of staff.

Spokesman Mike Briggs has headed off to the Senate side of Capitol Hill where he will be working for Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Andy Wright has become a vice president at the lobbying powerhouse of Dutko Worldwide. Wright will be working on telecommunications, energy and financial services issues.