Republicans press Pelosi for Colombia pact vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans urged House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday to end her delaying tactics and allow a vote on a free trade agreement with Colombia.

The appeal came one day before the first anniversary of a deal the White House struck with Democratic leader Pelosi to re-establish bipartisan support for trade by inserting stronger labor and environmental provisions into trade deals, including the one with Colombia.

Rep. Roy Blunt, a member of the House Republican leadership, said in a letter to Pelosi that passing the Colombia free trade deal would help the U.S. economy.

"At the press conference announcing the (May 10, 2007) agreement you rightly said that 'our economic future rests on our ability to open new markets for our U.S. goods and services so that we can continue to capitalize upon the innovative spirit of the American people,'" Blunt said.

"I also note your recent comments that you could still bring the Colombia Trade Promotion Act to the floor of the House, but Congress must first act 'to address the worsening economy in our country,'" the Missouri Republican said.

"Consistent with your statements, it only makes sense that passing free trade agreements just like the one with Colombia would stimulate our economy, create jobs and strengthen our economic influence abroad," Blunt said.

The U.S. Trade Representative's office late on Thursday also released a letter to Pelosi from the ambassadors of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras urging approval of the free trade pact with Colombia.

Passing the deal would be a step toward deeper U.S. relations with Latin America, "toward fair and equitable integration of our nations, and most importantly, toward securing the stability and peace of the Western Hemisphere," the ambassadors said.

The Democratic-run Congress approved a free trade agreement with Colombia's neighbor Peru in December. The United States also has free trade deals in place with Chile, Central American countries and the Dominican Republic.

However, Pelosi and other senior Democrats have long insisted that Colombia do more to stop the killing of trade unionists before Congress votes on that pact.

'FAST TRACK'

President George W. Bush submitted the Colombia deal to Congress in April in the hopes of winning approval before lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn in September.

But rather than follow longstanding "fast-track" procedures that guarantee a yes-or-no vote on trade agreements within 90 days, Pelosi pushed through a rule change that allowed her to indefinitely delay action on the free trade pact.

Pelosi said Bush ignored the advice of congressional leaders not to submit the agreement.

Since the April showdown, Pelosi has insisted on approval of a second economic stimulus package before Congress votes on the Colombia deal.

"We can talk about anything. We just don't -- the president, all of us -- like the idea of using an ally as a bargaining chip in a negotiation," U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez told Reuters on Friday.

(Editing by Eric Beech)