COVINGTON — Kentucky U.S Rep. Ken Lucas' support of fast-track trade legislation was praised Thursday by area business leaders but hammered by his Republican opponent in the Nov. 5 election.

Lucas

        Executives and representatives from Toyota, Ashland Inc., Griffin Industries, Shelby Industries and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce joined about 25 other companies and organizations at a Thursday morning breakfast honoring Mr. Lucas for his critical vote earlier this year on Trade Promotion Authority, called simply “fast-track” by business and political interests.

        The legislation, pushed by President Bush and passed earlier this year by Congress, allows the president to negotiate trade agreements with other nations. Congress then can only vote for or against the agreement and not change or delay it with amendments.

        Business leaders and proponents of fast-track say it will open new markets for American products, good and services.

        “We are not an island in this country,” said Marvin Quinn, the chief financial officer of Covington-based Ashland Inc. “We need to find new opportunities ... and trade promotion authority will help us find those opportunities.”

        Terry McBrayer, a partner at McBrayer, McGinnis, Leslie & Kirkland, a business and government relations law and lobbying firm in Lexington, said fast-track would help Kentucky businesses find new customers.

        “Last year thousands of Kentucky companies exported more than $8 billion in goods, and opening up more foreign markets will only increase the opportunity for Kentuckians to work and be successful right here in our own backyard,” said Mr. McBrayer, also a Democratic Party strategist and Lucas supporter.

        In February, Mr. Lucas, a two-term Boone County Democrat seeking re-election in the fall, was lauded by Mr. Bush for his support of fast-track, which passed the House in December of last year by one vote, 215-214.“The president called me to thank me after that vote,” Mr. Lucas told the business leaders during Thursday's breakfast at the Metropolitan Club.

        “It was a tough vote, but it was the right vote,” he said. “I think there will be some pain. We may lose some jobs at first, but in the long run we are going to gain more jobs because big and small businesses, including farmers, will benefit in the long run by having access to new markets and new customers around the world.”

        Mr. Lucas said fast-track and last year's tax cut have been the legislative hallmarks of the Bush presidency.

        But Republican Geoff Davis of Boone County, Mr. Lucas' opponent, criticized fast-track and said he would not have supported the bill despite the president's backing.

        “(Fast-track) is simply a procedure to negotiate trade agreements — not a free trade policy,” Mr. Davis said Thursday. “The ... bill that Mr. Lucas supported will prevent members of Congress from having any participative role in forming new trade deals. How can Mr. Lucas claim to represent the interests of the Fourth District when he is voting to take away our right to have a say in trade bills that affect us?”

        Many labor unions have opposed fast-track and during last year's debate, Northern Kentucky labor leaders called on Mr. Lucas to oppose the legislation.

        His vote in favor of the bill was one of the major reasons the Teamsters have endorsed Mr. Davis in the race, according to the Davis campaign.

        Ben Davis, Mr. Lucas' campaign manager, said he is “surprised” Geoff Davis does not favor fast-track given the president's support of the issue. “I thought Geoff Davis was on the Bush team,” Ben Davis said Thursday.

        Ben Davis also pointed to what he called Mr. Lucas' “job creation record.” Mr. Lucas was a founding member and former president of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, the region's job and economic development recruitment agency. Since its inception, Tri-ED has been credited with creating more than 100,000 jobs.

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