Jackson Free Press

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports on assertions by both Tyner and Musgrove yesterday at the Neshoba County Fair that Haley Barbour's lobbying for Mexico cost jobs in Mississippi. "The primary criticism of Barbour centered around his representation of Mexico as a lobbyist. Musgrove said Mississippi had lost 41,000 manufacturing jobs to Mexico since the North American Free Trade Agreement was passed by Congress in he early 1990s."

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This release came from Musgrove today about Barbour's NAFTA support: (Philadelphia, MS) Haley Barbour is trying to distance himself from his support of NAFTA and his lobbying on behalf of Mexico. Yesterday, responding to criticism regarding his support of NAFTA, Barbour told reporters that it was ìsillyî to call him a supporter of the trade agreement that has cost Mississippi over 41,000 jobs. † ìWe support NAFTA because itís good policy,î Barbour told USA Today in 1993. He continued, ìIt isnít often that President Clinton supports a good policy that we can help him with.î † At the Neshoba County Fair under repeated questioning Barbour went on to tell reporters, ì[The suggestion] has no basis in fact whatsoever.† It is totally untruthful.î † However, In a letter sent to the Mexican Ambassador on August 15, 2001 (Exhibit B to Foreign Agent Registration Statement, Barbour Griffith & Rogers, U.S. Department of Justice, registrant #5430), Haley Barbourís lobbying firm, Barbour Griffith & Rogers, listed the key issues they would be working on.† The first issue was ìTrade ñ NAFTA implementation.î† The letter also said that ìHaley Barbour and [Lanny Griffith] will lead the BG&R teamÖî † Copies of the letter are available via fax from the Musgrove campaign office. † ###

ladd

Aug 1 2003