July 25, 1997 This week the news of note is what is NOT in the news. Since we have just prepared an action alert based on what is NOT in the news, we take this opportunity to share it with you. As you will realize from reading the action alert, the MAI would prevent the kinds of programs to fund meeting community needs and creating jobs proposed in GANE.

ACTION ALERT: MAI TO BE INCLUDED IN FAST TRACK LEGISLATION

ADMINISTRATION WANTS A VOTE BY CONGRESS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH

Report from Ruth Caplan 7/23/97

As reported at a meeting of the Citizens' Trade Campaign (CTC) held today, the administration has committed to including the MAI in its fast track legislation. (CTC is the environmental, labor, consumer, farmer, religious coalition that spearheaded the anti-Nafta campaign.)

***If fast track passes, it means that Congress will not be allowed to make any changes in the MAI which is being negotiated in secret by the 29 leading industrial nations through the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). When the MAI is brought to the floor for a vote, members will only be able to say yes or no, no amendments allowed.

***If fast track passes, it will be much more difficult to stop the MAI from passing. This is why the administration wants it on the fast track.

Because the administration realizes that the more time our side has the more momentum we will build, they have decided to put fast track on a very fast track. CTC has just learned that the administration wants a vote September 19th -- just 10 days after Congress returns from its summer recess.

The White House is setting up a "war room" like they did with Nafta to garner support for fast track. "Congress Daily" reported today that Jason Berman, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, will be in charge.

Tomorrow the President is meeting with a select group of Democrats to "launch his campaign to gain renewal of fast track" also according to "Congress Daily." CTC thinks these uncommitted Congresspeople will be asked not to make any commitments over the August recess in response to citizen pressure. The administration wants to be able to twist their arms when they return. We can expect to see a blitz of advertisements favoring fast track right after Labor Day brought to you by the transnational corporations and the White House will be making every effort to get favorable OpEds and editorials placed in papers across the country.

If you want to get involved in stopping the fast tracking of the MAI, the August recess (August 1-Sept. 1) is your critical opportunity to be in touch with your representative and educate them on the problems with the MAI. Find out where their local office(s) is(are) located. Write to them or better yet, ask for a personal meeting. Bring as many friends as you can. A meeting may already be scheduled in your district. To find out, contact Chantell Taylor at Public Citizen 202-546-4996 ext. 303 of e-mail her at <ctaylor@citizen.org>.

Points to make (with thanks to Public Citizen)

* The MAI needs full debate in the light of day. It is being secretly negotiated in Paris by OECD members. It should not be on the fast track.

Here are a few arguments.

* The MAI would give corporations new tools to expand their power over democracies in the guise of expanding the global economy. Public Citizen notes: "A broad range of existing laws (in the U.S. and abroad) designed to influence and regulate the actions of all investors could be subject to challenge under proposed MAI terms. In the U.S. the MAI could limit:

* some stock market safeguards;

* some community reinvestment laws;

* local tax policies aimed at multinational corporations;

* expropriation of property for environmental safeguards;

* restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate and even strategic industries;

* domestic content requirements; and

* direct controls on the movement of capital.

* The MAI would establish NEW RIGHTS FOR CORPORATIONS and investors to SUE NATIONS for failure to meet the MAI's terms. Public Citizen explains: "Private investors could bring cases against governments through powerful international dispute resolution claiming they have not obtained due benefits promised under the treaty. This dispute resolution system is proposed to be binding on governments with enforcement through monetary fines." They conclude: "The investor to state dispute resolution process proposed in the MAI would provide substance to the concern voiced by many community, labor and other activists that corporations are effectively replacing governments."

* As drafted, the MAI could effectively forbid: "Local, state, and federal programs that set aside a certain portion of government-guaranteed loans or other benefits to promote small or minority business." In fact any policies promoting small businesses could be vulnerable. Just what the transnationals want!

*"The MAI draft includes a broad ban on 'performance requirements' that could prohibit a wide range of measures countries use to promote responsible corporate behavior."

In other words, the MAI would make drastic changes in how our economy operates to favor multinational corporations and big investors and to take power away from national and local governments. The administration is trying to muffle debate. WE CAN'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS.

For more information about the MAI, check the MAI section of Public Citizen's global Trade Watch web site <http://www.citizen.org/gtw>. You can even get the draft MAI text on their site.

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