House speaker doubts Colombia pact under Bush

[Judi Lynn]

House speaker doubts Colombia pact under Bush
The Associated Press
Published: October 17, 2008


WASHINGTON: Congress is unlikely to approve a trade agreement with Colombia before President George W. Bush leaves office, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi told The Associated Press on Friday.

Pelosi also played down the prospects of a postelection session to push through an economic recovery package of jobless aid and spending before year's end, as she spoke in exuberant terms of capitalizing on a political and electoral "tide" gathering in favor of Democrats to reinforce her majority.

Her comments reflected the slim chances that Democrats, increasingly confident of capturing the White House and building their House and Senate majorities substantially, will be able, on the heels of a bruising election, to come to terms with Bush and vanquished congressional Republicans on a plan to deal with Americans' pocketbook woes.

"What we're doing is preparing," the Democratic head of the House said in an interview in her Capitol office. "We'll come in if we have a purpose ... if there's something to pass that (Bush would) sign."

She bristled at the suggestion that Democrats might go along with the Colombia trade pact, a high hope of the president, in exchange for his agreement on a recovery package that he has so far resisted.

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