Lou Dobbs: Trade Free For All

Lou Dobbs ran a segment last night on the Bush Administration's "trade free for all." Bush is currently negotiating free trade agreements with 25 countries, none of which contain sufficient worker and national security protections.

Speaking on the show, Sherrod said, "It's pretty clear these trade agreements aren't working, they're costing us jobs, they're hurting our communities when one more plant closes and then another plant closes."

Watch the full segment below:

03/22/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Multimedia, Video, (all tags)

Brown Calls Bush Speech Hollow Rhetoric on Failed Policies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 20

AMHERST--At a Cleveland City Club event today, President George W. Bush attempted to reverse failing support for the war in Iraq. The event was not attended by Ohio Republican Senators Mike DeWine, George Voinovich, Republican Congressman Robert LaTourette, or Republican Ohio Governor Bob Taft.

Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County)--who is running against Senator Mike DeWine for the U.S. Senate seat--has been traveling around Ohio in recent months talking about national security, job creation, education, and health care. Brown said the overwhelming message echoed across the state is a call for change in 2006.

"I'm not surprised by the absence of Republican leadership at the president's event today," Brown said. "They know what the rest of us in Ohio know--the Bush/DeWine policies hurt Ohio families."

03/20/2006 / Permalink / Bush, Economy, Iraq, National Security, (all tags)

Sherrod Demands Security Review of Trade Deals at Weekend Events

Sherrod meets the Red Bonnet Biddies in Buckley's Deli in London, Madison Co.

Sherrod calls for trade security in Columbus

Breakfast with Franklin Co. Democratic Party Chair Bill Anthony

Sherrod called for national security reviews of all U.S. trade deals in Columbus and Dayton this weekend. Despite the collapse of the Dubai Port Deal, Americans are still at risk from trade agreements negotiated by the Bush Administration that failed to account for national security concerns.

The Dayton Daily News reports:

"These trade deals open up our markets, but they also open up our ports, our infrastructure (and) they open up our rail lines; they open up access to Miami Valley, access to our plants, access to our neighborhoods," Brown, D-Avon, said while standing next to the railroad tracks near the General Motors Moraine Assembly plant.

"It's absolutely imperative the citizens of this country know that their homeland is protected," he said.DP World is a state-owned company in the United Arab Emirates, home to two of the Sept. 11 hijackers and one of the few countries to recognize the Taliban.

...Brown said the Dubai deal "may just be the tip of the iceberg."

...The Lorain County Democrat introduced legislation last week that would mandate the security review. While most Republicans in Washington spoke out against the Dubai deal, Brown said his campaign opponent, incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine, has been "strangely silent and he's sort of punted on this national security issue."

Click here to read the full article.

In addition, Sherrod has called for a full review of all deals approved by the secret CFIUS process to ensure our ports and other critical national infrastructure is secure.

This weekend, Sherrod also made stops in Licking, Madison and Franklin Counties to meet with local activists and supporters.

03/13/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Homeland Security, (all tags)

Brown Calls for Review of CFIUS Deals and National Security Review in All U.S. Trade Agreements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 10, 2006

AMHERST, OH--Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County) has called on President George W. Bush to provide a list of all deals authorized by the secret CFIUS committee (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) of foreign ownership of U.S. ports, railways, and other assets with national security implications.

"We must know which foreign countries own U.S. assets such as ports, and if any of those deals pose a threat to homeland security," Brown said. "Specifically, we need to look at any deals with Communist China approved by the secret committee."

03/10/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Homeland Security, (all tags)

Dubai Deal is Bad News for Ohio

Sherrod chats with Hamilton Co. Chair Tim Burke before news conference

Lima news conference

News conference on port and trade security

Sherrod calls for a halt to trade deals that endanger national security

Sherrod made two stops this weekend in Lima and Cincinnati to highlight his opposition to the controversial Dubai port deal and promote new legislation to prevent future trade deals from compromising national security.

Local media including ABC affiliate WCPO and The Cincinnati Enquirer covered the Saturday event in Cincinnati, a key transportation hub on the Ohio River.  From The Enquirer:

"It's clear to almost everyone I know, including members of both parties of Congress, this $6.8 billion deal should be killed," said Brown, D-Lorain, during a press conference near Purple People Bridge.

Brown said the small Arab country had "strategic and financial ties" to Sept. 11 and had connections to al-Qaida, making it potentially dangerous for America.

"This job doesn't make sense for our security," said Brown, a likely challenger to U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine this fall.

Brown also touted legislation he said would require a security review of any country with which the U.S. enters into trade negations.

"That means any trade agreement any deal we do with another country would have to have a national security component to the trade deal," he said.

A crowd of local supporters gathered in Lima for a similar event on Sunday.  NBC affiliate WLIO and The Lima News reported on Sherrod's visit.  From The Lima News:

As traffic whizzed by on Market Street, U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown held a brief press conference Sunday in the parking lot of the Carpenter's Union Hall. Brown chose the location, just near the train tracks, to bring awareness to the public about a new agreement President Bush has pending with the United Arab Emirates.

"When you look at what's happening with bringing in cargo on our ports -- it's so often un-inspected and it comes in on rail road tracks like this," he said.

You can read more about Sherrod's efforts to secure Ohio's borders on the Plain Dealer's website, where he will be guest blogging all this week at the Open Mike.

Click here to read his first entry, "The UAE Has No Business Minding Our Ports."

03/07/2006 / Permalink / Dubai, Economy, Homeland Security, (all tags)

Jobs Rally in Warren, Border Security in Youngstown

Warren's town square was packed with IUE-CWA members & supporters

News conference on border security at a Youngstown rail yard

Sherrod speaking at IUE-CWA Job Rally

Sherrod made two stops in the Mahoning Valley area on Saturday to speak out on issues important to Ohio voters.

Sherrod first spoke to IUE-CWA members and their supporters who are under intense pressure from the auto parts manufacturer Delphi to accept pension and wage cuts.  Joining IUE-CWA were members of several other unions who have pledged to support the Delphi workers and retirees in this difficult time.

Click here to listen to audio of the rally.

Along with Congressmen Ted Strickland and Tim Ryan, Sherrod praised the resolve of IUE-CWA members and urged them stand firm against the company. All the speakers including several union leaders were given a warm response by the crowd.

From there Sherrod headed to a news conference at a rail yard in Youngstown. Lawmakers of both parties are questioning the Bush Administration's commitment to border security in the wake of the UAE port deal.

Sherrod highlighted his call to strengthen national security in all trade agreements, and provide for stricter Congressional oversight.

02/26/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Homeland Security, Jobs, (all tags)

Sherrod Talks to Lou Dobbs About UAE Port Deal

Sherrod was on Lou Dobbs tonight to talk about the UAE port deal and the link between trade and national security.

02/24/2006 / Permalink / Dubai, Economy, Homeland Security, Multimedia, Video, (all tags)

Congressman Sherrod Brown Calls On U.S. To Halt Trade Negotiations With United Arab Emirates

In response to the proposed outsourcing of America's port security to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County) today called on United States Trade Ambassador Rob Portman -- a former Ohio Congressman -- to halt negotiations with the Mideast nation.

Brown also said he plans to introduce legislation that would strengthen American's national security through trade agreements.

"Trade agreements are no longer simply vehicles for economic development," Brown said. "In a post-9/11 world, trade agreements are an integral part of our national security and our efforts to combat terrorism."

02/24/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Homeland Security, (all tags)