Wilson Calls on Senate Democrats to Stop Obstruction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2006
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Wilson Calls on Senate Democrats to Stop Obstruction
Time is Running out for US-India Nuclear Deal
Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), past Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, today released the following statement regarding the Senate’s delay in considering the US-India nuclear agreement:
“I continue to be amazed by Democrat double-talk. Earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid insisted that Republican in-fighting was the cause for delay on consideration of the US-India nuclear agreement. The fact is that Democrats have obstructed passage of this crucial agreement every step of the way. Prior to Republican-led passage in the House, Democrats made a last-ditch effort to defeat the measure. Led by Senator Reid, Senate Democrats are using the same tactics to eviscerate this important bill.
“Sadly for the people of India, Democrats’ political maneuvering could prove costly. If not approved this weekend, Senate Republican leaders will have an opportunity to bring up the measure in a lame-duck session. If Democrats continue their obstructionist ways, implementation of this agreement will be pushed to 2007.
“It is no wonder that more Indian Americans are finding a friend in the Republican Party as they continue to be alienated by Democrats.”
History of Democrat Obstructionism on US-India Nuclear Agreement
Obstruction by House Democrats:
A number of House Democrats cosigned a letter to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi expressing their concerns and opposition to this legislation;
Five Democrats introduced so-called “poison pill” amendments, which if adopted, would make the legislation unacceptable to the Indian government, during mark-up in the International Relations Committee. All five amendments failed;
Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced H. Con. Res. 318, which expresses opposition to the legislation. This bill was cosponsored by 21 Democrats;
Congressman Markey wrote an op-ed, published in Roll Call on April 24, entitled “India Deal Is a Nonproliferation Loss”;
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) opposed the agreement in a commentary published in The San Francisco Chronicle on July 25 - the day before House passage of the bill - entitled “Exception should not be the rule for India nuclear deal”;
110 Democrats opposed H. Res. 947, the rule to bring up consideration of H.R. 5682, the “United States and India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act of 2006”;
H.Amdt. 1194 and H.Amdt. 1195, two “poison pill” amendments, received the support of 129 and 146 Democrats, respectively; and
169 Democrats supported a motion to recommit the bill back to committee.
Obstruction by Senate Democrats:
No Senate Democrats cosponsored S. 2429, the original Senate version of the agreement;
Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced a “poison pill” amendment intended to kill the bill during mark-up in the Foreign Relations Committee. The amendment failed;
Former Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) wrote in opposition to the U.S.-India nuclear agreement in a May 24 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal entitled “Nuclear Pig in a Poke” and, finally,
Former Democrat President Jimmy Carter penned an op-ed on March 29 against the legislation in The Washington Post entitled “A Dangerous Deal With India.”
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