WASHINGTON — Facing what are widely seen as long odds, President Bush on Monday began the contentious process of trying to win congressional approval of a free trade agreement with Colombia that critics, including many in the Democratic majority on Capitol Hill, say does not do enough to protect workers here or in the South American nation.
The Bush administration argues that the measure would benefit Americans by opening a large market to U.S. goods and would reward a Latin American ally striving to overcome political instability and shut down its narcotics trade.
Critics say that although there has been progress since President Alvaro Uribe took office in 2002, Colombia has not done enough to stem attacks on labor leaders or protect human rights.
No administration has lost a vote on a major free trade pact in Congress, although few have found the task easy.
But Bush is facing a powerful challenge in seeking House and Senate approval as lawmakers prepare to go before voters concerned about foreign competition for jobs.
The outcome is made more difficult by Bush's sagging popularity, opposition to the pact by the Democratic presidential contenders and concerns about the U.S. economy.
All of which brings up this question: Why is he taking the step now, risking angering or embarrassing Colombia with a defeat and dooming the 16-month-old pact's approval?
Because, Latin America experts and administration officials say, waiting would accomplish nothing, and the clock is running out on his opportunities.
Likening the challenge to another gamble, Peter Hakim, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based policy research organization focused on the Western Hemisphere, said: "You take a shot with the lottery. You probably won't win, but if you don't take the shot, you know you can't win."
Under the protocol for considering the agreement, negotiated under provisions that give Congress a yes-or-no vote and no way to amend the pact, the House has 60 legislative working days -- the days in which it is in session -- to vote. The Senate then has 30 working days.
Bush signed a letter Monday sending the measure to Congress. By the administration's estimate, if the measure is delivered today, the 90-day calendar would expire in September, when Congress is expected to adjourn for the election campaign.
"Waiting any longer to send up the legislation would run the risk of Congress adjourning without the agreement ever getting voted on," Bush said.
