Bob Dole: “I will just say, again, a word about the WTO modification, the World Trade Organization. As I indicated earlier this…”

“I will just say, again, a word about the WTO modification, the World Trade Organization. As I indicated earlier this morning, it seems to me it is not a partisan measure. It just gives Congress some input, some authority and some responsibility. We know the American people are concerned about job loss, about exporting jobs and about all these international faceless, nameless bureaucrats who make decisions that might impact on their job. So it occurred to me the Congress should have some say, and we should be able to initiate withdrawal from the World Trade Organization. I think if we go back and look at the past, we will find that most Presidents are reluctant to do that, regardless of party. So this would give Congress, Democrats and Republicans--probably working together--a right to initiate withdrawal from the World Trade Organization. To me, those who voted against NAFTA or GATT--this pertains only to GATT, the World Trade Organization--but this would be sending a very strong signal. It would also, I think, be helpful; it might send a strong enough signal that some of our unfair competitors in foreign countries understand that we are serious about this. We are concerned about American jobs, whether they be in Georgia or Kansas, wherever, and that we in Congress are accountable. We are on the ballot every 6 years or every 2 years.”