Elections '08: Trade Policy

Elections '08- Looking back, looking ahead
 
  
  
   
Top: Left- MFTC President Jim Carson speaks with U.S. Senate candidate Tom Allen.
Top: Right- Peggy Bogart of the Postal Workers union hands out "fair trade voter" stickers at an event in Biddeford
Bottom: Left- Bruce Roy asks a question on trade at a town hall forum in Lewiston
Bottom: Right- Francoir Aman and Katherine Kates speak with Senator Sherrod Brown in Bangor

In the 2008 election cycle, trade was an important election issue in Maine and across the country. 

Here in Maine, we sucessfully "bird-dogged" the candidates to ask them about their positions on trade.  We had numerous questions asked in major debates between the federal candidates.  We published at least 7 letters to the editor and op-ed on trade and the candidates. We circulated flyers and information among more than 20 of our coalition partner organizations and other organizations' members. Trade came up again and again in the election discourse and in media coverage.

Nationally, a total of 40 new Members of Congress are "fair-traders" replacing "free-traders."  We can really begin to make progress to move in a new direction for trade policy.

Global Trade Watch report Fair Trade Gets an Upgrade: http://www.citizen.org/trade/politics/

National AFL-CIO story on trade: http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/11/10/elections-give-big-boost-to-trade-reform
 

From our 2008 Elections project:

Download our 2008 Voter Guide

The candidates respond to MFTCs questionnaire

Where do Obama and McCain stand on trade?

TIPS FOR BIRD-DOGGING AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS

BIRD-DOGGING ON THE INFORMED GROWTH ACT: STATE RACES
 

WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR