Massa Stresses Free Trade Differences with Kuhl

By Bud Lowell

Rochester, NY – Congressional Candidate Eric Massa campaigned against U.S. trade policy Wednesday, saying his opponent Randy Kuhl has backed Bush Administration free trade policies that cost American jobs.

Kuhl is the Republican incumbent in the 29th District. Massa is the Democrat challenging him for the second time.

Massa appeared outside an abandoned Kodak facility in Henrietta with Rochester labor officials. Also with Massa were workers from GM and other area companies whose jobs were moved to other countries.

Massa said the Bush Administration has contributed to a climate that gives business every incentive to move jobs out of the United States. He said the United States should be giving businesses tax credits for creating jobs in the U.S. -- not subsidies to build factories in China.

Massa said Kuhl's support for free trade agreements like CAFTA puts American workers at a disadvantage because they don't give U.S. manufacturing a level playing field.

Kuhl said free trade agreements are important to help American businesses compete effectively in the global marketplace. He said about 10 percent of all U.S. jobs depend on exports, and one-in-five factory jobs depend directly on international trade.

Kuhl said trade agreements actually keep many of those jobs from being outsourced to China or other emerging markets.