PROBLEM: FREE TRADE DEALS LIKE NAFTA AND CAFTA HAVE COST MILLIONS OF AMERICAN JOBS - Between the signing of NAFTA in 1993 and 2004, it's estimated that the USA has lost 1,015,290 jobs (51,582 in New York State alone).² Why have these jobs gone overseas? Free trade allows foreign countries to export their goods to us with minimal regulations. In this scenario, China can afford to produce cheaper goods by ignoring international environmental standards, minimum wage requirements, and child labor laws without any real penalties. In fact, between 2000 and 2005, New York State has lost over 200,000 middle class jobs, or 25.6% of our manufacturing base. This trend can only be reversed if we are serious about changing our trade policies and holding our trade partners accountable.

SOLUTION: REVISE OR OPT OUT OF FAILED FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS - Free trade is the source behind our job losses and is deeply damaging the strength of our middle-class. Our free trade deals can be changed if Congress acts. We need to change these deals to favor working Americans, or end them. In 2005, Randy Kuhl cast the deciding vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). If we are going to change these failed free trade agreements, then we need more members of Congress with the backbone to stand up to corporate outsourcers.

PROBLEM: WORKERS RIGHTS ARE DECLINING AROUND THE WORLD - The world knows that China has failed to recognize their workers basic human rights. By ignoring regulations like minimum wage, health care, disability, and basic work week standards, China has become the world's factory. By lowering the bar for Chinese labor, they have lowered the bar for all laborers.

SOLUTION: MOVE TO A FAIR TRADE SYSTEM WHERE PARTNER NATIONS ARE HELD TO THE SAME WORKING AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS THAT WE HOLD OURSELVES TO - Right now the Senate is working on the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment Act of 2008. If passed, this bill would immediately form a trade agreement review committee to complete a comprehensive study of the impact of all 15 of our current trade agreements. Once this is completed, the President will be required to prepare a trade agreement renegotiation plan where there are gaps in standards. This will require our trade partners to uphold the same work standards that we mandate in the United States. Manufacturers of products across the board--from the US, to China, and beyond--would enjoy the same high standard of working conditions. This equality is absolutely necessary. If partner nations refuse to comply and increase their standards, then we must not engage in trade with them, without penalties. Without comparable standards, a Fair Trade system is non-existent and American workers lose.

PROBLEM: THE BUSH-KUHL TRADE DEFICIT IS OUT OF CONTROL - Right now we are running a $201 billion trade deficit with China, the largest in history. Trade with China alone, has cost us approximately 410,000 jobs.³ Our trade gap with China and other nations like it can only be balanced by issuing trade penalties to them when they refuse to take care of their work force.

SOLUTION: ENDING TAX BREAKS FOR JOB EXPORTERS AND OFFERING INCENTIVES FOR JOB CREATORS - The American Government serves the American people, not multinational corporate special interests. As long as the United States is running record deficits thanks to irresponsible Bush-Kuhl fiscal policies, we should not be giving tax handouts to corporate outsourcers. Rather we should be reinvesting in job creation and job retraining for outsourced workers. Pace Windows in Rochester N.Y. is a company that only buys American made raw materials. They not only produce American made products, but they also create good jobs with solid benefits for Americans at their factory and for Americans at the companies where their raw materials come from. Companies like this should be encouraged with tax breaks to continue manufacturing processes that create American jobs.