Jay Rockefeller: “many of us have struggled for months to decide what is the right vote on China PNTR--the right vote for our individual…”

“many of us have struggled for months to decide what is the right vote on China PNTR--the right vote for our individual states, the right vote for the Nation. I certainly have, as I have tried to grasp what effect PNTR with China might have on my state of West Virginia. Over the last few months I've taken some time to listen and to talk with people in my state, to review where we are in West Virginia under the current trading system. I've tried to assess if West Virginia will be helped or disadvantaged if the Congress rejects PNTR. That is what I care about more than anything. It is well known that West Virginia is a long way from enjoying the full benefits of the economic boom that we hear so much about. Unemployment remains over 5 percent, stuck stubbornly far above the national average. Our per capita income is $19,362, 49th among the states. Far too many of our working poor require food stamps, and far too many remain uninsured. And while I will fight every day to bring more and better jobs to West Virginia, the fact remains that we are a long way from providing the economic opportunities for the thousands of West Virginians who want to improve their lives, or are just struggling to survive from day to day.”