CAFTA Damage Report: Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.)

Turning his back on the textile and apparel workers in North Carolina’s 8th District, Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.-8) dramatically reversed his previous opposition to the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) expansion of NAFTA to become a deciding last vote that delivered CAFTA’s 217-215 passage, after being made vague promises by Republican leaders to help the U.S. textile and apparel industry. Unbelievably, this is the second time Hayes has switched his vote on a major piece of trade legislation.

 

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS RELEASES

• Dec. 14 – As Government Data Show Another Record Monthly U.S. Trade Deficit and Increasing Manufacturing Job Loss in Charlotte Region, Rep. Hayes’s CAFTA Vote Still in Spotlight

• Aug. 1 – CAFTA Damage Report – “Flat-Out, Completely, Horizontally Opposed to CAFTA,” Rep. Robin Hayes Flip-flops His Initial “No” Vote to “Yes” at Last Minute for Empty Promises on Textiles…Again

NEWS ARTICLES ON HAYES’ BAD CAFTA VOTE

• “‘Yes’ Vote on CAFTA is a Winner for Hayes,” The Charlotte Observer, March 12, 2006.
• “Democrats attack Hayes over CAFTA,” The Charlotte Observer, July 28, 2005.
• “N.C. split on CAFTA,” The Charlotte Observer, July 29, 2005.
• “CAFTA Vote Switch an Issue for Democrats,” Associated Press, July 29, 2005.
• “The CAFTA Capers,” The News-Record (Greensboro, NC), July 30, 2005.
• “Rhymes with ‘Disasta,'” The Augusta Chronicle (GA), July 31, 2005.
• “About-Face: CAFTA vote a slap to N.C.,” Rocky Mount Telegram, July 31, 2005.
• “The CAFTA Gamble,” The Huntsville Times (Ala.), August 1. 2005.
• “Deal Making, Washington Style,” San Francisco Chronicle, August 1, 2005.
• “Reverberations from CAFTA vote are still being felt on Hill,” The Hill, August 3, 2005.
• “Friends, Foes Made Over Trade Deal,” Los Angeles Times, August 7, 2005.
• “Anti-CAFTA groups suggest inside deals swayed trade votes,” The Hill, August 10, 2005.
• “Veteran files to challenge Hayes in 8th Congressional District,” Associated Press, August 24, 2005.