AUGUSTA – Maine’s top elected leaders are split over giving President Bush increased authority to negotiate trade deals, and whether such authority would help the state. The House voted 215 to 214 Thursday to grant the so-called fast-track trade promotion authority.

“This is one of the few times I disagree with our representatives,” said Gov. Angus King. “On balance, it is beneficial to Maine. There might be some short term problems, but in the long run, we have to participate in the world economy.”

King said he is certain Maine companies can benefit from the increased international trade that would result from trade agreements being concluded in a “more timely manner” than under the current congressional process.

Under the fast track procedures sought by Bush, Congress would have to vote a trade deal up or down with no opportunity to amend the agreement, and consideration would be required within a limited period of time. Normally a trade pact is subject to amendment like any other piece of legislation, and there are no time constraints on deliberations. The president was quick to applaud the House action.

“Trade promotion authority will give me the flexibility I need to secure the greatest possible trade opportunities for America’s farmers, workers, families and consumers,” he said in a statement released by the White House minutes after the vote.

Both of Maine’s Democratic congressmen strongly opposed the legislation. Rep. John Baldacci said he opposed similar proposals when President Clinton sought them and said the Bush legislation is no improvement.

“This is not good news for Maine,” he said. “It is not good news for our salmon industry Down East or our lumber industry. Trade agreements should not bypass the regular consideration of Congress and this proposal would do that.”

Baldacci said by allowing any president to present a trade agreement that cannot be modified by Congress is a bad idea that will lead to agreements that will hurt Maine companies, not help them.

“I am all for trade and increased opportunities for Maine businesses,” he said. “But this is not the way to accomplish that goal.”

Rep. Tom Allen participated in the floor debate Thursday and said he was very disappointed the bill was approved. He said the proposal would not only hurt Maine businesses, it would make it more difficult and expensive to obtain prescription drugs.

“The Thomas bill [the Bush-backed proposal] directs ‘the elimination of government measures such as price controls and reference pricing used by many trading partners to keep prescription drugs affordable,” Allen said. “This isn’t a proper trade objective, it’s a greed objective for the pharmaceutical industry. By forcing higher drug prices in Canada, it could deprive many American seniors of an inexpensive source of drugs.”

Allen said the legislation only passed because of “the goodies” Bush provided to lawmakers who had opposed the legislation in the past, but who voted for this measure.

Allen instead voted in favor of a separate fast-track measure that failed. “It would have provided protection for labor and environmental standards and required more consultation with Congress,” he said.

The Senate has yet to consider the matter. Republican Sen. Susan Collins said she supports the concept of fast track, but she wants to make sure the final version of the legislation has three key components. She said the bill must ensure that existing trade laws are not undermined, that job re-training programs for affected workers are adequate, and that the legislation must give Congress a role in the process.

“I believe that we should extend carefully drafted trade promotion authority to the president,” she said. “If we do not, our nation’s – and Maine’s – businesses and workers may be left behind as our competitors form trade alliances without us.”

Fellow Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe is undecided on the issue. In 1997, she voted against a similar proposal and she voted against both the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement, citing their detrimental effects on Maine. Last June, she expressed her skepticism of fast track authority during hearings on the Bush request.

“I think what we need to know is where we’ve been effective in the past when we’ve granted fast-track authority to a president on some of these issues,” she said, “because I think the feeling is that progress hasn’t been made, at least in a substantial way.”

Snowe serves on the Senate Finance Committee which has jurisdiction over the legislation. Chairman Sen. Max Baccus, D-Mo., announced the panel will consider the trade proposal next week.