Senate Committee trade vote interrupted by protests
Wall Street Journal | October 11, 2011
Senate Committee trade vote interrupted by protests
By Siobhan Hughes
Protesters on Tuesday interrupted a U.S. Senate Finance Committee vote on free-trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama, forcing the committee to briefly delay the committee meeting.
“The committee will stand in recess until the police can restore order,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D., Mont.) said. The hearing quickly resumed after police escorted one protester out of the room, but another person continued with disruptions, and it remained unclear how quickly the votes could proceed. Protestors generally complained trade and job losses.
The deals are expected to clear both chambers of Congress this week and be signed into law by President Barack Obama.
