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Bloomberg, House Speaker Pelosi Talk Guns

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Apr 15, 2008 8:00 pm US/Eastern

Bloomberg, House Speaker Pelosi Talk Guns

NYC Mayor Also Discussing Free Trade, Immigration In D.C.

WASHINGTON (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds a news conference with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on "The State of the Union 2007" Jan. 19, 2007 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images)
Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg met Tuesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging her to support free trade, immigration and gun control.

The two met privately for more than 30 minutes, and Bloomberg said he emphasized to her how important it was to encourage immigration, free trade deals, and tighter scrutiny of gun sales to keep weapons out of criminals' hands.

Free trade has become a flashpoint in the current presidential race, and President Bush and House Democrats are currently locked in a standoff over a proposed free trade deal with Colombia. Bush sent the Colombia agreement to Capitol Hill earlier this month, but House Democrats decided to eliminate a rule forcing a vote on the deal within 60 legislative days. The House's decision probably kills consideration of the Colombia agreement this year, leaving it for the next administration.

While the Bush administration accuses Pelosi of trying to kill the Colombia deal, Bloomberg said she was receptive to his arguments on the subject.

"The only commitment I got is, I think she certainly said she understands the need for trade and the need to have immigrants be able to come into this country," said the mayor.

Bloomberg spent two days in the nation's capital, most of that time trying to win support for his group Mayors Against Illegal Guns. On Monday, the group announced Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had voluntarily agreed to tighten their rules for gun sales.

Aides to the mayor said the two also discussed federal funding for health programs for sick ground zero workers. Bloomberg has long lobbied for a permanent federal program for those workers. Pelosi has been generally supportive in the past without committing to specifics.