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Bob Barr on Trade and Economics

Globalization has become a reality that has challenged traditional economies all over the world. Increased trade and agreements between nations have raised debate in the United States about what is the right balance between global exchange and protectionism. This topic includes information about candidate positions on: free trade and free trade agreements, farm subsidies, unionization, an increase in the federal minimum wage, and trade relations with China.

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The issues

Bob Barr opposes unrestricted free trade

“We certainly…believe in the benefits of open and fair trade.... I have no problem at all with trade agreements, but they have to be fair, they have to be open.”

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I’ll leave it to others to dissect his overall record, but on international trade Barr is no libertarian. During his eight years in the House, from 1995 to 2003, Barr voted on 24 major bills and amendments affecting the freedom of Americans to trade and invest in the global economy. He voted in favor of lower trade barriers only four times, voting in favor of higher trade barriers 20 times.

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A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.

National Platform of the Libertarian Party, Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado

Voted YES on withdrawing from the WTO.

Resolution sponsored by Paul, R-TX; Bill H J Res 90 (vote)

Voted NO on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements.

Bill introduced by Archer, R-TX.; Bill HR 2621 (vote)

Bob Barr is neutral on an increase in the federal minimum wage

Barr signed the Contract with America: The Job Creation and Wage Enhancement Act: Small business incentives, capital gains cut and indexation, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act and unfunded mandate reform to create jobs and raise worker wages.

Contract with America 93-CWA10 on Sep 27, 1994

Bob Barr strongly opposes government subsidies to farmers

A: Two things, so as President of the United States do you get rid of ethanol and do you get rid of farm subsidies? A: "Absolutely on farm subsidies. The vast majority of farm subsidies by the way go to farmers in farm families and corporate farms that have no need for it whatsoever. I think the average income for a family that recieves the farm subsidy is that 54% of them have incomes over $200,000 a year."

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Voted NO on the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (H.R. 2646), which authorized $167 billion over ten years for farm price supports, food aid and rural development.

link (vote)

Bob Barr opposes normal diplomatic and trade relations with China

Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. Vote to give permanent Normal Trade Relations [NTR] status to China. Currently, NTR status for China is debated and voted on annually. The measure contains provisions designed to protect the United States from Chinese import surges and the administration would have to report annually on China's compliance with the trade agreement. The bill establishes a commission to monitor human rights, labor standards and religious freedom in China.

Bill sponsored by Archer, R-TX; Bill HR 4444 ; vote number 2000-228 on May 24, 2000