Moorhead Calls NAFTA Vote His Most Difficult as He Announces Support : Politics: Congressman says the only valid argument against it involves bureaucracy the pact would create.

Coming almost full circle, Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale) announced Tuesday that he will vote today for the fiercely debated North American Free Trade Agreement.

Moorhead, who had been leaning against the pact in recent weeks, said he was persuaded it would boost U.S. exports, create jobs--especially in California--and help stem illegal immigration. He said the only argument against NAFTA that he ultimately found valid is that it will create a new bureaucracy to regulate the pact and resolve any disputes.

“I could not get away from the basic belief that supporting NAFTA was the right thing to do despite the fact that it carries with it a degree of personal political discomfort,” said Moorhead, who called the high-stakes vote the most difficult in his 21 years in Congress.

Sources familiar with Moorhead said he became convinced of the merits of the agreement but had remained concerned about potential political fallout. In recent days, his perception of the political threat ebbed, however, as his mail and phone calls became increasingly pro-NAFTA following Ross Perot’s performance in his debate with Vice President Al Gore.

Moorhead had initially voted for the so-called fast-track negotiating authority under Republican President Bush. His enthusiasm cooled as Democrat Clinton pursued side labor and environmental agreements and began a belated uphill climb to win ratification this year. In making his announcement, Moorhead sought to reclaim NAFTA as a GOP issue.

“Basically, free trade has been a Republican issue all along,” an unusually animated Moorhead said in an interview. “Republicans believe that our country has a bright future and we can compete and that, as we open markets around the world, we can come out on top. And that’s the thing that makes it feasible and enticing.”

Long concerned with illegal immigration, Moorhead said he believed NAFTA would eventually ease the flow by helping to improve the Mexican economy and reduce the incentive for Mexicans to travel to the United States seeking employment. He cited one estimate that illegal immigration would be reduced by 326,000 in the next eight years.

Moorhead is the last San Fernando Valley area lawmaker to reach a decision on NAFTA. He joins Reps. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills), Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) and Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) as supporters; Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) is the region’s lone opponent.

Traditionally a strong supporter of business, Moorhead was lobbied to back the proposal to gradually phase out trade barriers between the United States, Canada and Mexico by such major employers in his 27th District as Nestle, the Walt Disney Co. and Time-Warner as well as cabinet officials from Republican Gov. Pete Wilson’s Administration.

The pact contains unprecedented protection for copyrighted products such as films, television shows, recorded music and books--an area of great concern to the entertainment industry and one on which Moorhead has been particularly active as member of the House Judiciary Committee.

Since Nov. 12, USA*NAFTA, a national coalition of business, agriculture and consumer supporters of the pact, has been airing 60-second radio ads in Moorhead’s district urging constituents to call the lawmaker’s office supporting the treaty. His district was one of 19 media markets nationwide targeted to influence key undecided lawmakers.

This may have had the intended impact. Moorhead said his correspondence was running 2 to 1 in favor of NAFTA recently--a marked contrast to early tallies when the public response was overwhelmingly opposed to the pact.

As he wrestled with his decision, Moorhead also met with Perot, a leader in the anti-NAFTA movement. The lawmaker said the Texas tycoon warned him that Perot’s politically energized loyalists would exact retribution at the polls in 1994 on any official who voted for NAFTA.

After Moorhead’s announcement, however, the elected leader of Perot’s United We Stand America organization in the 27th District gave a mild response.

“On behalf of the organization, I’m disappointed,” said Kevin Meenan, the 27th District coordinator and a Pasadena attorney for the organization, which claims 3,000 to 4,000 members among Moorhead’s constituents. “As a professional person looking at the analysis of another professional person, it appears he has evaluated the situation thoroughly and has voted in what he believes to be in the best interests of his constituents.”

Asked whether United We Stand America members would seek to make Moorhead pay a political price for his position, Meenan was reluctant to respond. But he said pointedly, “It’s unrealistic to expect that any constituency is going to do what they’re told in the voting booth.”

Doug Kahn, an Altadena businessman who was Moorhead’s Democratic opponent last year and aspires to oppose him again next year, was more outspoken.

Kahn, an opponent of NAFTA, said Moorhead’s announcement reflects the generous financial backing the lawmaker receives from corporate interests. He also expressed skepticism that Moorhead ever wavered in his support.

“He has no regard for the working people of his district,” Kahn said. “The people of the district are not his constituency. I think that’s perfectly clear now.”