In Bush Win, House Narrowly Approves CAFTA

SFGate reports President Bush insisted that the small trade agreement with six Latin American nations would pay big dividends for security, stability and freedom in the Western Hemisphere. After persistent lobbying by the White House, Congress finally agreed. It took personal visits from the president and vice president, along with strenuous arm-twisting from Republican leaders, before the House passed the Central American Free Trade Agreement early Thursday by a two-vote margin, 217-215. The Senate approved CAFTA last month 54-45, and it now goes to the president for his signature. It was a major victory for the Bush administration, which had to fend off claims by critics that the pact would harm American workers.

This is good news, not just for the economic impacts, but because the Dems were fighting it hoping that a defeat would mean Bush would be treated as a Lame Duck.