Ohio Valley Politics

In a statement issued today by Rep. Zack Space’s office the Democratic freshman spoke out against the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act.

“I was not sent to Congress to add another nail to manufacturing’s coffin. Free trade agreements have devastated our economy, and I refuse to support yet another plan that puts giant corporations and foreign workers above Ohio’s workers, families, and communities.

“We have an unbelievably good manufacturing tradition in Ohio, and our workers are extraordinary. But they struggle to compete against trade deals that place them at a competitive disadvantage when companies’ race to the bottom for cheap labor overseas.

“When they passed NAFTA and CAFTA, they said everything would be ok. But for my constituents in Southeastern Ohio, things are not ok. This agreement is yet another insult to Ohio’s workers and companies.”

– Rep. Zack Space

I’ve heard that the Democratic leadership has really been leaning hard on people to get them to support this bill, I’m glad Space is standing up to the pressure. I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Charlie Wilson also votes against the measure, but that’s just speculation.