U.S. China Trade Bill: More Undecided Lawmakers Throw Support Behind Measure; Lobbying Continues for 218 Total House Votes Needed
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story is D-Day, as in decision day, in Washington. The issue there: trade relations between the U.S., the world's largest economy, and China, the world's most populated nation. Well, several undecided lawmakers jumped off the fence yesterday, throwing their support to the trade bill. The vote is expected to come this afternoon. And CNN's Kelly Wallace reports President Clinton has been working hard to get it passed.</s>KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Clinton calls it the most important decision lawmakers will make this year. After months of nonstop lobbying by the White House, the House of Representatives votes today on permanent normal trade relations with China. Until the end, Mr. Clinton made public and private appeals, trying to influence undecided members from the podium....</s>WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The consequences of this vote will be felt after I am no longer president.</s>WALLACE: ... and calling fellow Democrats still on the fence to the White House for some personal lobbying. Democratic backers of the measure, which waives the annual review of trade with China, claim they have tremendous momentum. More undecided lawmakers in their party publicly endorsed the bill, saying it will open up China's markets to U.S. goods.</s>REP. ALLEN BOYD (D), FLORIDA: It came down to the fact that this is good for all of America. This is good for the American capitalist and the American worker.</s>WALLACE: But opponents continued their final lobbying blitz, hoping to convince the remaining undecideds the deal would be a big blow to American workers.</s>REP. PETER DEFAZIO (D), OREGON: It is about job loss in America, it is about U.S. capital and multinational capital fleeing America to access and exploit cheap labor in China. It's not about selling them anything.</s>WALLACE: The White House expects Republicans to deliver at least 150 votes, and Democrats are aiming to come up with 70. The magic number needed for passage: 218 votes.</s>WALLACE: And there is more and more optimism here at the White House. President Clinton told reporters last night after a fund- raiser he thinks the China trade vote will pass. But between now and that vote later this afternoon, he is keeping his scheduled open, making himself available to work the phones or meet with lawmakers trying to do whatever he can to put one of his biggest legislative priorities over the top. Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.</s>CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, from the White House let's go to Capitol Hill to get a count of those lawmakers. That's where we find CNN's congressional correspondent Bob Franken this morning. Bob, what is the count for the vote today?</s>BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're about 10 votes shy of the 218 they need to go over the top. A lot of those are undecideds. A lot of them are people who say, look, if you really, absolutely need me, Mr. President, or if you really need me, Mr. Republican leader, we'll go along with you. But, if we can vote against it, that will mean we won't have to displease our constituency; that is to say a heavy labor district constituency, perhaps. So there's that kind of thing. It's a reality of whipping, which is what they're doing right now. The leaders are trying to whip the members into their column on one side or the other. There are about four different sides represented here: Democrats who are going along with the president, supporting this. There are Democrats who are going along with organized labor, about two-thirds of the Democrats, in opposing it. There are Republicans who are going along with their leaders in business and supporting it. And the Republicans who have questions about China, mostly conservative Republicans, they are opposing it -- Pat Buchanan-type Republicans. So there's whipping going, to use that term we've gotten to enjoy a little bit, all over the place. But it looks like the ones who are whipping for the legislation, Carol, are going to succeed.</s>LIN: Well, Bob, you'd know the answer to this: Is this really about being undecided or is there a little horse trading going on in the background?</s>FRANKEN: Well, of course there's some horse trading going on, by which we mean, the person says, look, I really need a new water plant in my area, or I need a new pipeline, that kind of thing. That is a reality of legislative trading. But a lot of people, honestly, are trying to decide what this means in principle, or, more importantly, what this means politically.</s>LIN: All right, Bob Franken covering the debate and the vote today on Capitol Hill.