THREE MISSOURI CONGRESSMEN VOTE IN FAVOR OF NAFTA TREATY

The North American Free Trade Agreement is "a winner for the United States, its workers and the nation's economy," U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, said after Wednesday night's vote.

Emerson, who represents Missouri's Eighth Congressional District, fellow Republican Mel Hancock of Springfield and Democrat Ike Skelton of Lexington were the only members of the Missouri House delegation to vote with President Clinton on the trade agreement.

Southern Illinois Congressmen Glenn Poshard and Jerry Costello, both Democrats, voted against NAFTA.

Emerson said his vote to remove trade barriers was a vote for the future economic growth of his congressional district and Southern Missouri.

"The fact of the matter is that the jobs going to Mexico have already gone. What NAFTA does is lower tariff and permits the United States to sell more of our goods and services to Mexico," Emerson said.

"...Imagine the opportunities that lie ahead if we tear down the tariffs that remain, not only for agriculture, but for more efficiently produced American manufactured goods."

Duke McVey, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO, called the treaty's approval "kind of a bitter pill.

"But you know, life goes on. We felt for workers it was not good, not only for the American workers but for the Mexican workers as well."

Charles Kruse, the president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, said NAFTA's passage is good news for the state's farmers.

"I clearly think it's going to send a signal to the rest of the world that we believe in taking down trade barriers and opening up markets," he said.

He said Missouri farm products are a perfect fit for Mexican markets.

But Roger Allison, director of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, said NAFTA is bad news for smaller farmers and businesses.

"I really feel betrayed by the administration. The administration that was elected by family farmers and working people."

Emerson noted that NAFTA is open-ended: any country can get out of the agreement six months after providing written notice.

He said today's global wars are taking shape between economic blocs rather than military alliances.

"This vote will help position the United States to continue to be the strongest, most inspirational leader on the face of the Earth -- through trade, not aid; through peaceful development, rather than the conflict of war," Emerson said.