#FightFastTrack: Coalition Takes Aim at Lawmakers over Corporate-Friendly 'Trade' Agreement

[polly7]

Published on
Thursday, February 19, 2015
byCommon Dreams

Environmental, labor, and community groups are staging public forums and creative direct actions urging their representatives to say no to a rushed TPP deal

bySarah Lazare, staff writer

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People gather at Peace Arch Park in 2012 to oppose the U.S.-led Trans Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP). (Photo: Caelie_Frampton/flickr/cc)

Environmental, labor, and community groups are organizing rallies, public forums, and creative direct actions this week urging their congressional representatives to say "no" to a renewed bid to rush through the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership "trade" deal by passing "fast track" legislation.

"Senate Finance Committe Chair Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is saying he wants to reintroduce Fast Track legislation for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) this month — right after Members of Congress return from the Presidents Day recess," explains Citizens Trade Campaign, referring to legislation that would allow the Obama administration to avoid transparency and full congressional review of the deal. "Now’s the time to tell Congress: no Fast Track for the TPP!"

"Fast track legislation could be introduced as early as next week," Arthur Stamoulis, executive direct of Citizens Trade Campaign, told Common Dreams. "Fast track would allow harmful trade deals like the TPP be rushed through Congress. We need everyone to be telling their Congress members to put the breaks on."

From California to Illinois to Connecticut, over 22 events are slated for the President's Day recess (February 14 to 23), during which lawmakers are at home, in their districts. Organizers hail from labor, workers' rights, environmental, and community organizations, and actions span from an overpass light brigade in San Diego to a public forum in New York.

The TPP would affect wages, climate protections, internet freedom, access to medicine, indigenous rights, food safety, financial regulations, and a whole lot more," said Stamoulis. "It's really a corporate power grab with the status of a trade agreement."

Full article: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/02/19/fightfasttrack-coalition-takes-aim-lawmakers-over-corporate-friendly-trade-agreement

[on point]

1. Even taxation without representation I would say.