ID :
21764
Mon, 09/29/2008 - 10:18
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http://m.oananews.org//node/21764
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Markey says there's nothing to cheer about House nod to N-deal
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Sep 28 (PTI) Congressman Ed Markey, a known opponent of the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, has said the passage of a bill on the subject by a 298-117 vote in the House of Representatives was nothing to cheer about as Republicans hailed the move as a step forward in strengthening bilateral ties.
"More than twice as many members voted against the deal
Sunday as (those) voted against the Hyde Act that set the
conditions for the deal two years ago" Markey said in a
statement last night.
The Democrat from Massachussetts had insisted on a
recorded roll call vote on the bill during the debate in the
House on Friday.
Critics like Markey have pointed out that the Hyde Act in
the House of Representatives was passed by a 359-68 vote on
July 26, 2006 while the House vote on the Conference Report
was cleared on December 8, 2006 by a 330 to 59 margin. And
now under the suspension of rules requiring a two thirds
vote, the bill to approve the U.S.-India agreement was passed
only by a handful of votes.
While critics were quick to jump on to the fact that the
bill in the House was barely passed by the required number of
votes, South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson, one of the
strongest supporters of the legislation and the agreement,
hailed the vote.
Wilson said the House adoption of the bill on the nuclear
deal moved the U.S. one step forward in strengthening the
partnership with people of India.
Republican leaders of the Indian American community did
not fail to mention that while lawmakers in the Grand Old
Party stuck to the party position, Democrats abandoned the
legislation and in unexpected numbers.
"It was a close call," remarked Ashok Mago, the Chairman
of the USINDIA FORUM. "A very strong Republican support gave
us the victory since the Bill was considered under the
suspension of rules requiring a two-thirds majority.
Republicans gave us the majority of the votes."
Mago expressed confidence that the Senate will give
approval to the measure next week.
"Indian American community leaders with strong ties with
the Democratic Party need to remind their friends the
importance of relations between our two nations and seek their
support for issues vital to both the United States and India,"
Mago, a Republican Community leader who has been in the
forefront of the backing for the U.S.-India nuclear deal,
said.
The U.S.-India Business Council applauded the vote in the
House with its President Ron Somers calling it "yet another
milestone" in the bilateral strategic partnership.
"But Senate passage is required before U.S. companies can
participate in civil nuclear trade with India. Given the
strong bipartisan Congressional support for this initiative
and the endorsement of both Presidential candidates (Democrat
Barack Obama and Republican John McCain), there is no reason
for further delay on a Senate vote," Somers said in a
statement. PTI SK
Washington, Sep 28 (PTI) Congressman Ed Markey, a known opponent of the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, has said the passage of a bill on the subject by a 298-117 vote in the House of Representatives was nothing to cheer about as Republicans hailed the move as a step forward in strengthening bilateral ties.
"More than twice as many members voted against the deal
Sunday as (those) voted against the Hyde Act that set the
conditions for the deal two years ago" Markey said in a
statement last night.
The Democrat from Massachussetts had insisted on a
recorded roll call vote on the bill during the debate in the
House on Friday.
Critics like Markey have pointed out that the Hyde Act in
the House of Representatives was passed by a 359-68 vote on
July 26, 2006 while the House vote on the Conference Report
was cleared on December 8, 2006 by a 330 to 59 margin. And
now under the suspension of rules requiring a two thirds
vote, the bill to approve the U.S.-India agreement was passed
only by a handful of votes.
While critics were quick to jump on to the fact that the
bill in the House was barely passed by the required number of
votes, South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson, one of the
strongest supporters of the legislation and the agreement,
hailed the vote.
Wilson said the House adoption of the bill on the nuclear
deal moved the U.S. one step forward in strengthening the
partnership with people of India.
Republican leaders of the Indian American community did
not fail to mention that while lawmakers in the Grand Old
Party stuck to the party position, Democrats abandoned the
legislation and in unexpected numbers.
"It was a close call," remarked Ashok Mago, the Chairman
of the USINDIA FORUM. "A very strong Republican support gave
us the victory since the Bill was considered under the
suspension of rules requiring a two-thirds majority.
Republicans gave us the majority of the votes."
Mago expressed confidence that the Senate will give
approval to the measure next week.
"Indian American community leaders with strong ties with
the Democratic Party need to remind their friends the
importance of relations between our two nations and seek their
support for issues vital to both the United States and India,"
Mago, a Republican Community leader who has been in the
forefront of the backing for the U.S.-India nuclear deal,
said.
The U.S.-India Business Council applauded the vote in the
House with its President Ron Somers calling it "yet another
milestone" in the bilateral strategic partnership.
"But Senate passage is required before U.S. companies can
participate in civil nuclear trade with India. Given the
strong bipartisan Congressional support for this initiative
and the endorsement of both Presidential candidates (Democrat
Barack Obama and Republican John McCain), there is no reason
for further delay on a Senate vote," Somers said in a
statement. PTI SK
