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John Konop: Rep. Tom Price Outsources Immigration Law Rep. Tom Price Outsources Immigration Law By John Konop America is no longer in charge of American immigration laws. Huge multinational corporations have built in a loophole by lobbying Rep. Tom Price and other members of Congress to pass the CAFTA trade agreement. Immigration Reform Doesn’t Begin and End at the Border Even if Americans can finally convince Congress to secure the borders and begin enforcing existing immigration laws, it can all be evaded. Multinational corporations can subvert our immigration laws to insure a steady and endless flow of cheap, wage-lowering immigrant labor—while small businesses have to play by the rules. Under Tom Price’s CAFTA, a foreign country that doesn’t like our immigration laws (or trade laws) can sue America in an “international tribunal”. These three-member tribunals are rigged—the foreign country names two of the “judges” while we name only one. Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo goes on to explain: “If an international tribunal rules against us, Congress would then be forced to change our immigration laws or face international trade sanctions. These tribunals have the authority to rule that U.S. immigration limits, visa requirements, or even licensing requirements and zoning rules are ‘unnecessary burdens to trade’ that act as ‘restrictions on the supply of a service.’” State Laws Are Also Vulnerable Trade policies under NAFTA, CAFTA, and WTO don’t just threaten federal trade and immigration laws. States can lose the ability to set their own purchasing preferences if they are found to “discriminate” against foreign companies. For example, the following kinds of laws and policies can be overturned by foreign tribunal courts: Amnesty for Trade Cheats In the run-up to the CAFTA vote, Congressman Charlie Norwood (R-GA) called CAFTA’s foreign tribunals, “Amnesty for trade cheats, just like the same crowd’s proposals on amnesty for illegal aliens.” Tom Price ignored that and many other warnings. He dangled his CAFTA vote until the very end, and then finally sold out. Under these trade deals, Americans are forced to compete against workers from countries with vastly inferior labor, wage, and environmental standards. That is not “fair” trade—not if you’re an American. They also create a double-standard in law enforcement. A multinational corporation accused of violating U.S. immigration law can hide behind a stacked foreign tribunal. An American small business accused of the same offence must obey the law or face the penalties. If you think one person can’t make a difference, remember: CAFTA passed by one vote. Join challenger John Konop in demanding that these disastrous trade deals be renegotiated to: Please help us get the message out by sharing this release with your friends and by making a donation. Thank you. Additional Reading: States’ Rights vs. Free Trade, by Business Week http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_10/b3923130.htm?campaign_id=search CAFTA Undermines Immigration Laws, by Congressman Tom Tancredo http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/07/18/opinion/commentary/71705195445.txt CAFTA: Amnesty for Trade Cheats, by Congressman Charlie Norwood http://www.theamericanresistance.com/articles/art2005jun17.html
May 26, 2006 John Konop for Congress Guest Opinion
Republican Candidate for U.S. Congress (6th district)
www.ControlCongress.com
770-852-2222
info@johnkonop.com
It gets worse: The state of Utah is currently being sued by the government of Antigua and Barbuda because Utah’s gambling regulations conflict with America's trade agreement obligation not to discriminate against foreigners providing "recreational services."
