CAFTA Passage Predicted

If this holds, it will be very welcome news indeed. House leaders are saying the votes are there to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement this evening:

President Bush met with Republican House members on Capitol Hill this morning and personally underscored the importance of passing CAFTA. He was accompanied by Vice President Cheney and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman.

After the meeting with Bush, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) told reporters, "It will be a tough vote, but we will pass CAFTA tonight."

Although opponents hold out hope that they can defeat the treaty, they have increasingly acknowledged in recent days that the determination of the agreement's backers may be too much for them to overcome.

It's not the flashiest story in the news, but it will have one of the longest impacts. I'll be watching this vote VERY closely...