Sherrod Brown: “I got confirmation yesterday from the Embassy of Chile that former Presidential candidate Bob Dole is going to represent…”

“I got confirmation yesterday from the Embassy of Chile that former Presidential candidate Bob Dole is going to represent the Government of Chile against the United States in a trade dispute over salmon. The Embassy expressed the hope and expectation that former Senator Dole would advise the Chilean Government on its political strategy on the fast track debate currently underway in the United States Congress. I would urge Senator Dole to reconsider his decision. Unfortunately, this is business as usual, and it underscores how bad trade agreements make their way through Congress. Foreign governments have tremendous resources to hire American lobbyists and Washington DC law firms with powerful connections. Often these lobbyists are prominent ex-Members of Congress, former Senators, and ex-trade officials. But Bob Dole is different. He is not just another politician. I am not saying that Senator Dole has done anything wrong. He left the Senate in June 1996, so he is not bound by the 1-year revolving door laws. He is free to represent Chile if he wants. But I am saying that this is too much business as usual. Senator Dole is playing on the visitor's team, and we want him back on the home team. We want him on America's team, not Chile's team. Chile has threatened to take the United States to the World Trade Organization if we act to protect our American salmon farmers and salmon fishermen.”