Presidential candidate Rick Santorum has gained popularity by saying he supports efforts to revitalize American manufacturing. But he remains silent about House Republicans keeping the China Currency Bill from being brought to the floor for a vote. That includes 61 Republicans who co-sponsored the bill. So if Romney is serious, there is something he can do without waiting for the election: tell House Republicans to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.
Watch him say it. From the Telegraph: Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum pledge tough stance on China,
(If video is not visible, click here to see it.)
"I know folks are concerned about currencies. I'm concerned about it too. Governments should not set currencies. Markets should set currency values. And that includes the United States of America," Mr Santorum told supporters in Detroit.
US lawmakers have complained that China's yuan currency is significantly undervalued, giving Chinese companies an unfair price advantage that helped lift the US trade deficit with China to a record $295.5 billion in 2011.
The House Bill
China manipulates its currency so things made in China have a price advantage of as much as 30-40% in world markets even before China's other trade cheating comes into play. This means that our jobs, factories, industries and economy lose. There is a bill in Congress to take action to stop this currency manipulation. For more background, see: China Currency Fight In Congress.
The bill is stalled in the House. Speaker Boehner refuses to let it come to the floor for a vote, and even though the bill has 61 Republican co-sponsors no Republicans have signed the "discharge petition" to force a vote.
From Will The U.S. House Side With China On Currency?,
The bill can be forced onto the House floor using a "discharge petition." You can take action to help get Republicans to sign the discharge petition so it comes to the floor. Click here to contact members of Congress and ask them to sign this discharge petition and end Chinese currency manipulation now.
Tell Congress to stop China's cheating on currency manipulation, which stands in the way of free and fair trade, job creation, and a higher standard of living for millions of Americans.
From These Are The House Republicans Blocking The Crackdown On China Currency Manipulation. Call Them.,
One very big thing we can do about this right now is to confront China over their currency manipulation and the Senate passed a bill to do just that. The House leadership, under the control of lobbyists siding with China, refuses to allow the bill to come up for a vote. You can contact co-sponsors of the bill and ask them to sign a "discharge petition" that will make that vote happen.
... There are 61 Republican members of the House of Representatives who co-sponsored legislation to confront China over their currency manipulation: Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act (HR639). Contact them and ask them to sign the "discharge petition." They are: (click through to see...)
From 61 House Republicans Co-Sponsored China Currency Bill, Now Side With China,
61 House Republicans ... had co-sponsored the China currency bill, but who now side with China by refusing to help force a vote on the bill. The bill has passed the Senate and Republican leaders are refusing to allow a vote in the House. This bill means jobs. This bill means confronting China over their trade cheating. Call these members of Congress and demand that they side with American workers instead of China.
[. . .] The Club For Growth, a Wall Street front-group that backs China's positions on these issues, has demanded that Republicans side with China on this, and has called it a "litmus test." One Republican who actually did sign the discharge petition to force the House to vote, Harold Rogers, was forced by House leadership to remove his name!
Does Santorum Want To Do Something Or Not?
Santorum says he supports American manufacturing. Does he mean it, or is he just saying it to get votes, only to go back on it later?
There is a way for Santorum to demonstrate that he means it. He can demand that Speaker Boehner bring the China Currency bill to the floor for a vote, and demand that Republicans in the House sign the discharge petition to force a vote, if Boehner refuses.
Will he?
