Let me get this straight: Your “D.C. Journal” of Nov. 16 notes that I am unconditionally in favor of fast-track trade authority; that a group of pro-life Republicans will only vote for fast track if their provision opposing family planning is inserted into the Foreign Operations bill; and that when, as a conferee on that bill and a steadfast supporter of family planning, I refuse to allow them to get their way, I’m responsible for blocking adoption of fast track? Does anyone believe that?
Fast track derailed because the White House failed to gain enough Democratic support for the bill (the president reportedly secured only 42 votes from House Democrats), which meant that it could not have passed even with the votes of certain Republicans who sought to undermine our commitment to international family planning.
At the bottom line, fast track wasn’t undermined by the failure of legislative blackmail; it failed because President Clinton couldn’t generate adequate support from members of his own party.
