We have a climate warrior in the house. Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA) pulled together a anti-TPP coalition and spoke out strongly for the defeat of fast-tracking the TPP. This in spite of forceful lobbying by The President, who even attended a baseball game in order to lobby Ms. Pelosi.
Pelosi's take away line said before the vote on the House Floor: “You cannot separate commerce and environment”.
Think Progess/Climate
In order to slow down the fast track process, House Democrats voted against a bill offering assistance to American workers whose jobs were displaced under the TPP. That bill, the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA), had been pushed by Democrats, including Pelosi, and was seen as an attempt to get Democrats on board with the trade agreement. It was paired with the fast-track legislation.
“If TAA slows down the fast track, than I am prepared to vote against it,” Pelosi said. And vote against it she did.
Since one part failed, the entire package — which has already passed the Senate — is delayed. The House has until Tuesday to pass TAA, or the fast-track option will die.
“Today’s votes to stall fast-track and TPP are a major win for anyone who cares about climate change,” 350.org’s Ganapathy said in a statement. “Today was a big win, but the thousands of climate activists across the country who stood up and linked arms with fellow progressives to get us here won’t rest until fast-track and TPP are dead for good.”
The TPP is stalled for now. We don't know what will happen when it is taken up for a vote in the next few days. For now, let's celebrate our minority leader for courageously pulling off an unexpected miracle.