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Angus King on Free Trade

Independent Former ME Governor

 


Develop an open North American energy market.

King signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:

Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 25-12: Energy / NICE 00-NEGC12 on Jul 18, 2000

Foster globalization with New England & Eastern Canada.

King signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:

  • WHEREAS, a successful Knowledge Industry Innovators’ Forum resulted in the identification of issues critical to the continued development of a knowledge economy in the Northeast; and
  • WHEREAS, the Governor’s Conference is desirous of working together, in cooperation with the business community, to promote economic growth, facilitate trade flows across borders, and identify future opportunities for trade development;
  • NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopt the [work plan summarized here]:
    1. Continue to focus on the development of strategies and initiatives that Premiers and Governors can undertake to grow the Northeast region’s knowledge economy.
    2. Monitor and discuss national and international trade policy, including NAFTA, WTO, and discussions regarding a free trade agreement of the Americas.
    3. Identification of border crossing impediments and strategies for addressing; including cross-border re-location of professionals, and businesses wishing to conduct business in both countries.
    4. Assess opportunities and challenges facing the Northeast energy sector.
  • BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Trade and Globalization seek appropriate resources to undertake a trade and infrastructure study for the region; and
  • BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [we commit to] continue working with innovators to profile the region’s knowledge economy sector, identify key public and private sector institutions in order to encourage the development of a strong, representative, regional network to assist Governors and Premiers in facilitating the continued development of a knowledge economy in the Northeast.
    Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 26-5: Trade & Globalization 01-NEGC5 on Aug 28, 2001

    Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank.

    King voted NAY Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act

    Heritage Action summary of vote# S206: The Senate voted to table (kill) an amendment by Sen. Kirk to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Sen. Kirk recommends voting NO. Heritage Foundation recommends voting YES because the `Ex-Im Bank is little more than a $140 billion slush fund for corporate welfare.`

    OnTheIssues explanation: Voting NO would allow a vote on reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank. Voting YES would kill the bill for reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank.

    Sierra Club reason for conditionally voting NO (from previous bill S.819):Sen. Shaheen`s bill S.824 reauthorizes the Ex-Im Bank without undermining Obama`s Climate Action Plan. The Sierra Club supports the bill because it makes both financial and environmental sense for the US and all of its taxpayer-backed financial institutions--including Ex-Im--to stop investing in dirty and dangerous fossil fuels like coal.

    Cato Institute reason for voting YES to kill the bill:The Ex-Im Bank`s reauthorization buffs contend that Ex-Im fills a void left by private sector lenders unwilling to provide financing for certain transactions. Ex-Im`s critics [say that] by effectively superseding risk-based decision-making with the choices of a handful of bureaucrats pursuing political objectives, Ex-Im risks taxpayer dollars. It turns out that for nearly every Ex-Im financing authorization that might advance the fortunes of a single US company, there is at least one US industry whose firms are put at a competitive disadvantage. These are the unseen consequences of Ex-Im`s mission.

    Source: Congressional vote 15-S0995 on Oct 19, 2015

    Implement USMCA for improved North American trade.

    King voted YEA USMCA Implementation Act

    Summary from Congressional Record and Wikipedia:Vote to amend the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and establish the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Rather than a wholly new agreement, it has been characterized as `NAFTA 2.0`; final terms were negotiated on September 30, 2018 by each country. The agreement is scheduled to come into effect on July 1, 2020.

    Case for voting YES by Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL); (Dec. 19, 2019)The USMCA includes stronger protections for American workers and enforceable labor standards, as well as environmental protections. It eliminates the Trump Administration`s threat that the US could walk away entirely from the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, which would devastate US jobs and our economy.

    Case for voting NO by Jared Huffman (D-CA); (Dec. 19, 2019) Democratic negotiators did a lot to improve Donald Trump`s weak trade deal, especially in terms of labor standards and enforcement, but the final deal did not reach the high standard that I had hoped for. The NAFTA renegotiations were a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift labor and environmental standards across the continent--to lock in serious climate commitments with two of our largest trading partners and dramatically improve labor standards and enforcement to slow the rise of outsourcing.

    Legislative outcome: Bill Passed (Senate) (89-10-1) - Jan. 16, 2020; bill Passed (House) (385-41-5) - Dec. 19, 2019; signed at the G20 Summit simultaneously by President Trump, Mexican President Enrique Nieto, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Nov. 30, 2018

    Source: Congressional vote 19-HR5430 on Dec 19, 2019

    More business cooperation between New England & East Canada.

    King signed the New England Governors' Conference resolution:

    Source: NEG/ECP Resolution 23-7: Economic Cooperation 98-NEGC7 on Jun 9, 1998

    Other governors on Free Trade: Angus King on other issues:
    ME Gubernatorial:
    Janet Mills
    Paul LePage
    ME Senatorial:
    Betsy Sweet
    David Costello
    Demi Kouzounas
    Sara Gideon
    Susan Collins
    Susan Rice
    Gubernatorial Debates 2023:
    KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
    vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R)

    vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R)
    vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R)
    LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
    vs.Jeff Landry(R)
    vs.Shawn Wilson(D)
    vs.John Schroder(R)
    vs.Sharon Hewitt(R)
    MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
    vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew)
    vs.Brandon Presley(D)

    Gubernatorial Debates 2024:
    DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited);
    vs. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D)
    vs. County Exec. Matt Meyer (D)
    vs. State Rep.Mike Ramone (R)
    IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited);
    vs. Sen. Mike Braun (R)
    vs. Suzanne Crouch (R, lost May 7 primary)
    vs. Eric Doden (R, lost May 7 primary)
    vs. Attorney General Curtis Hill (R, lost May 7 primary)
    vs. Jennifer McCormick (D)
    MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited):
    vs. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R)
    vs. State Senator Bill Eigel (R)
    vs. Lt.Gov. Mike Kehoe (R)
    vs. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D)
    MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R)
    vs. Ryan Busse (D)
    vs. State Rep. Tanner Smith (R, lost June 4 primary)
    Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):
    NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited);
    vs. Lt.Gov. Mark Robinson (R)
    vs. Attorney General Josh Stein (D)
    vs. Treasurer Dale Folwell (R, lost March 5 primary)
    vs. Justice Michael Morgan (D, lost March 5 primary)
    vs. State Senator Andy Wells (R,withdrew)
    vs. Rep.Mark Walker (R, withdrew)
    ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R, retiring)
    vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R)
    vs. U.S.Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R)
    vs. State Sen.Merrill Piepkorn (D)
    NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring)
    vs. U.S.Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R)
    vs. Mayor Joyce Craig (D)
    vs. Acting Gov.Chuck Morse (R)
    vs. Exec.Councilor Cinde Warmington (D)
    UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R)
    vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R)
    vs. Minority Leader Brian King (D)
    VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R)
    vs. Lt.Gov.David Zuckerman (D, withdrew)
    vs. Selectman Peter Duval (D)
    vs. Commissioner Esther Charlestin (D)
    WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring);
    vs. Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D)
    vs. U.S.Rep.Dave Reichert (R)
    vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D)
    vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R)
    vs. Hilary Franz (D, withdrew to run for U.S.Rep.)
    WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited)
    vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R)
    vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D)
    vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew)
    vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R, lost May 14 primary)
    vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R, lost May 14 primary)
    Abortion
    Budget/Economy
    Civil Rights
    Corporations
    Crime
    Drugs
    Education
    Energy/Oil
    Environment
    Families/Children
    Foreign Policy
    Free Trade
    Govt. Reform
    Gun Control
    Health Care
    Homeland Security
    Immigration
    Infrastructure/Technology
    Jobs
    Local Issues
    Principles/Values
    Social Security
    Tax Reform
    War/Iraq/Mideast
    Welfare/Poverty

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    Page last updated: May 28, 2025; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org