Stop TPP fast-track petition delivery event.
So you most likely know about President Obama's push to fast-track a secret trade deal. There has been word from elected officials and WikiLeaks that it is going to harm American jobs, give corporations the right to sue governments for cutting into corporate profits via worker protections or environmental regulations, effect intellectual property laws, food safety regulations, and the right of Congress to negotiate future trade deals.
But have you heard of Trade Adjustment Assistance? TAA is how the government says sorry for shipping American jobs overseas. It sets up funding to provide assistance and training for those workers.
Guess where the TPP pulls that money from. MEDICARE funds. And as Congressman Ellison (D-MN) pointed out that's not just a senior issue, that is an everyone issue. The mega-corporations that are crafting this horrible trade deal are making children who live in poverty, the disabled and the elderly pay to retrain the men and women whose jobs they will ship to countries that enslave workers and/or pay them deplorable wages.
Thank you to the elected officials that were in attendance fighting for the American people. Obama wants this passed in secrecy and as Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) mentioned, this isn't about not loving the president, not loving trade, or not loving America. It's about loving Americans and doing her job, which is to look out for their best interest. Obama should be happy to share this trade deal with the public, transparently, so Congress can do its job. Click here to email your representative.
Oh, and Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL), thanks not only for the work you have done to fight this trade deal, but also for rocking those amazing shoes.
Pictures of the Stop TPP Fast-Track petition delivery event below the fold.