GOP’s Leadership on Free Trade

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Free trade is an economic issue that is near and dear to us here at the Club, mainly because the benefits from freer trade are so strong, but also because it’s an issue that Democrats and Republicans alike either misunderstand or don’t care about.  Therefore, we have a lot of work to do in order to expand economic liberty around the globe through more trade.

So, it’s with that in mind, that I’d like to share with you the new members of the Ways & Means subcommittee that has jurisdiction on trade in the 113th Congress.  I’ve listed them below along with their rating on trade issues from the Cato Institute.

As you can clearly see, with the exception of Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas, its disheartening to see that the supposed leaders of advancing free trade in the House don’t have the kind of record that we would hope to expect.

  1. Devin Nunes, Chairman (68% on barrier votes, 27% on subsidy votes)
  2. Kevin Brady (81% and 11%)
  3. Dave Reichert (67% and 64%)
  4. Vern Buchanan (71% and 25%)
  5. Adrian Smith (57% and 13%)
  6. Aaron Schock (71% and 0%)
  7. Lynn Jenkins (86% and 100%)
  8. Charles Boustany (63% and 9%)
  9. Peter Roskam (57% and 75%)

It’s difficult to advance free trade with Obama in the White House, but like I said, a lot of work must be done even on the GOP side of the fence to truly make meaningful advances in expanding free trade.