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Enron Mail |
When he took on Stand Up for Steel as a client, he checked with us. We gave
him a client waiver. Lisa Yoho@ENRON_DEVELOPMENT 06/07/2001 02:13 PM To: Richard Shapiro/NA/Enron@Enron, Linda Robertson/NA/Enron@ENRON cc: Subject: Re: Frontrunner 6/7/01 -- Sec. 201 Note 3rd para - why is Ed Gillespie lobbying directly against our steel interests? Lisa Larry Decker 06/07/2001 09:44 AM To: Linda Robertson/NA/Enron@ENRON, Lisa Yoho/NA/Enron@Enron, Chris Long/Corp/Enron@ENRON cc: Subject: Frontrunner 6/7/01 -- Sec. 201 Administration's Stance On Steel Imports Seen As Protectionist. The Wall Street Journal (6/7, Phillips, Wonacott) reports, "For all his talk about free trade, President Bush's step toward blocking some steel imports signals that the Republicans will be every bit as protectionist as the Democrats, trade analysts said. U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Zoellick, usually a classic free-trader, said Wednesday -- while in China preaching the benefits of opening markets -- that foreign steelmakers were selling their products below cost to gain market share in the U.S. The administration, nonetheless, acted under a trade law that doesn't require it to prove such dumping took place.' At a time of economic slowdown in all our countries, there are going to be increasing pressures' for protectionism, Mr. Zoellick acknowledged. In keeping with World Trade Organization rules, he said, 'the U.S. will act to safeguard and protect its own economic interests.'" The Journal adds that "trade analysts and foreign steel producers said the decision proves that domestic politics always trumps free-market philosophy." Steel State Senators Pleased By Bush Action. The Charleston Daily Mail (6/7, Fischer) reports, "In pressing for an investigation that could result in restrictions in steel imports, President George Bush kept a campaign promise but could curiously counter his reputation as a free trader just as he prepares his first trip to Europe." The Daily Mail adds, "A group of steel-state senators were pleased Tuesday afternoon, but quickly and soberly acknowledged that initiation of the trade case is only the beginning." The senators included Jay Rockefeller, Arlen Specter, and Robert Byrd. Gillespie, Weber Lobbying Seen As Key To US Steel Companies' Victory. The Washington Post (6/7, E1, Edsall, Blustein) Reports, "In persuading President Bush, a self-proclaimed free trader, to take steps this week aimed at restricting imports of steel, lobbyists for the U.S. steel industry used the threat that thousands of retired steelworkers in key states would lose their health insurance if their companies closed. The specter of an uprising by steel retirees, who substantially outnumber active steelworkers, provided a potent political argument for the industry's case that Bush should take drastic action to protect U.S. steel companies from a worldwide glut even at the cost of tarnishing his free-trade image. The argument was advanced by two top Republican lobbyists, Edward W. Gillespie and Vin Weber, each of whom has been receiving $45,000 a month from an industry-union coalition called Stand Up for Steel. The coalition scored a smashing victory Tuesday, when Bush announced that his administration will file a case with the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking to win authority to set quotas on steel imports. And although many factors went into the White House's decision, industry sources and other participants pointed to the concerns raised by Gillespie and Weber as a classic demonstration of how a highly motivated constituency can sway an administration that barely won the electoral college and lost the popular vote."
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