US-Colombia trade pact is dead unless House leader sets vote, says Bush

Bush sent the agreement to Capitol Hill earlier this month, but the House, led by Democrats, decided to eliminate a rule forcing a vote on the deal within 90 legislative days. The House’s decision probably kills consideration of the Colombia agreement this year, leaving it for the next administration that takes over Jan. 20 after Bush leaves office.”This free trade agreement is in our national interests,’ Bush said. “Yet that bill is dead unless the speaker schedules a definite vote. This was an unprecedented move. It’s not in our country’s interests that we stiff an ally like Colombia and that we don’t encourage our goods and services to be sold overseas.”