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Study: NAFTA has cost NY-26 more than 1,800 jobs

By Howard B. Owens

New York is the fifth hardest hit state in the union in terms of jobs lost since the ratification of NAFTA, according to a study released by the Economic Policy Institute, and in New York, the NY-26 Congressional District has lost the most jobs after the NY-29.

The 26th district, which is currently up for grabs in a May 24 special election, has lost 1,800 jobs since 1994.

The study does note that some of the job loss may have been driven by the recent economic downturn, but says in all more than 500,000 U.S. jobs were displaced as a direct result of the ratification of NAFTA.

New York has lost 34,300 jobs. Most of the jobs were in the manufacturing sector.

The study takes into account new U.S. jobs created as a result of trade with Mexico.

Before the passage of NAFTA, the U.S. had a trade surplus with Mexico of $1.6 billion. By 2010, the trade deficit with Mexico had climbed to $97.2 billion.

The introduction to the report reads:

Prominent economists and U.S. government officials predicted that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would lead to growing trade surpluses with Mexico and that hundreds of thousands of jobs would be gained (Hufbauer and Schott 1993; President Clinton 1993). The evidence shows that the predicted surpluses in the wake of NAFTA’s enactment in 1994 did not materialize, for reasons outlined in this briefing paper. However, congressional leaders and administration officials now make nearly identical claims about export growth and job creation under the proposed U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

Wikipedia describes EPI as a liberal, nonpartisan think tank.

The next representative of the NY-26 will likely be asked to vote on three new trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, which is why we asked the four candidates for their positions on free trade.  

Kathy Hochul, Jack Davis and Ian Murphy all said they oppose NAFTA. Jane Corwin said, "I am a believer in the free markets and free trade but it must also be fair trade."

Asked specifically whether they would vote yes or no on the South Korean pact, Hochul, Davis and Murphy all said, "No." Corwin did not answer the question.

(via Buffalo First)

Ed Gentner

Perhaps it the wisest offering by Republican Candidate Jane Corwin since her endorsement and strong support of the Ryan plan to replace Medicare with a voucher that will leave seniors at the mercy of the private insurance industry was to embrace silence on the issue of jobs and trade agreements...."It is often better to remain silent and be thought the fool than to open ones mouth and erase all doubt"...

May 10, 2011, 8:46am Permalink
C. M. Barons

Mr. Hunt, my recollection of Ross Perot divergences from your own. I recall a folksy, cliche-heavy windbag who never quite managed (despite charts and graphs) to describe his program. No denying- he identified problems, but when put on the spot to declare a fix, he hedged and hemmed and hawed. To test my recollection, I revisited the debate between Perot and Gore (http://youtu.be/GhwhMXOxHTg). ...Same old Ross, all around Robin Hood's barn and nothing to show for it.

One thing is for sure, he has chutzpah. He griped about the high cost of Medicare and Medicaid while making his billions on government contracts, processing Medicare and Medicaid claims!

May 10, 2011, 1:01pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Jack Davis is looking more and more like the only viable candidate on the right.

I think I'm going to be sick.

Congressman Davis

The room is spinning... Must have been that free hot dog.

By the way, I'm only ashamed of my second vote for Perot.

May 10, 2011, 9:12pm Permalink
George Richardson

In Texas Ross was known as Pee-rot, that nasty smelly funk around bar room urinals and toilets for drunks with piss poor aim.
He made billions from the government and had fun wasting a little bit of it. As soon as winning looked possible he started making up excuses to drop out.
Congressman Murphy sounds very Western New York to me.

May 10, 2011, 11:37pm Permalink

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