The “Fast Track” Bill For The Trans-Pacific Partnership Hit The Floor Of Congress Today, Labor Respo

[Omaha Steve]

http://nhlabornews.com/2015/04/the-fast-track-bill-for-the-trans-pacific-partnership-hit-the-floor-in-congress-today-labor-responds/

It was only a matter of time until the multi-national corporations who helped fund the campaigns of many of the politician’s in Washington pushed for another trade agreement that will make them billions of dollars, and leave millions of American workers without a job.

Today the “Senate’s Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015” hit the Congressional floor. The deal was brokered by Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah), Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), and Chairman of House Ways and Means Committee Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin).

The New York Times spelled it out pretty well:

“It would give Congress the power to vote on the more encompassing 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership once it is completed, but would deny lawmakers the chance to amend what would be the largest trade deal since the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994, which President Bill Clinton pushed through Congress despite opposition from labor and other Democratic constituencies.”

President Obama has already said he will oppose the unions — who help him win two elections — and his fellow democrats to get this trade agreement passed.

FULL story at link.

[Vincardog]

1. I have said it before this bill is treason.

[onecaliberal]

2. ^^that^^

[Elwood P Dowd]

4. And there are treasonous trolls that show up on this board masquerading as Democrats

supporting TPP. They try every trick and talking point in the corporate bible to convince us Obama knows best, and that TPP will actually fix many of the problems caused by previous free trade disasters. Let's just keep digging that magic free trade hole deeper and we will eventually find the gold mine at the bottom of the shaft. Trouble is, the fat cats ALWAYS end up with the gold and we ALWAYS get the shaft.

[merrily]

3. So messed up.

This is lesser of two evils.

You get reproductive choice (mostly) and equal rights, which are very important

But, regardless of (D) or (R), jobs leave the USA, welfare as we know it, repeal of Glass Steagall crashes the economy of the USA and other countries, Social Security and Medicare go "on the table," comfortable shoes stay in the closet if WalMart or state workers strike, etc.

All for the benefit of big business and greedy mult-billionaires who can't stand the thought of helping workers in their own country if it means a penny less proft per unit, or of a disabled person getting a minimal income or of (gasp) a person who is jobless or a low earner getting food stamps.

Sorry I have the temerity to (gasp) mention some of what has actually gone on since the DLC/Third Way philosophies took over the Democratic Party, allegedly to be more "electable." More Republicans now hold more seats in Congress than they have since 1928 (before election of FDR and his incredibly broad and long-lasting coattails). And they've been doing very well in state and local offices, too. And the Third Way reaction to 2014 a promise to work with Republicans even more!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6485355

(only partial list. Doesn't contain cuts to SNAP. I probably omitted other things, too)

[AtomicKitten]

5. It's like a freight train without brakes.

Appalling, really. This is one of those occasions when I blame and resent the corporate Democrats in Congress who are going along with the Republicans on this mess. This is why they don't belong in the Democratic Party.

[BobSmith4152]

6. So, while the important discussion here at DU involves condiments (Really!)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026520334 is anyone intereste in DOING something about this?

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.html

or maybe something a bit more organized?

[senseandsensibility]

7. E-mailed and called my senators.

Can we all do the same?

[liberal_at_heart]

8. Absolutely! Done.

[Faryn Balyncd]

9. It will also put EVERY proposed "trade agreement" in next 6 yrs under Fast Track, AND

...legislate that it would require a supermajority to remove any future "trade agreement" proposed by whoever happens to be president in the next 6 years from the Fast Track process.


It is the corporatists' wet dream.