Abandoned Factory, Photo by Peter Huys
The following is a letter which I sent to Congressman Bob Brady (D-PA) urging him to oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership and the bills associated with it when they come up for a vote in the House of Representatives.
Dear Congressman Brady,
I am writing to express my opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement and the bills which are associated with TPP. These bills have a number of fatal flaws in them which will NOT be in the best interests of the people of the First District, nor of the country as a whole.
In addition to the numerous poison pill amendments added to the Trade Assistance Authorization bill by Republicans, the funding source, a $700 million cut of Medicare, for this assistance is unacceptable. Although I am not quite old enough to be eligible for Medicare yet, I will be in just a few years, and my parents are now receiving it. They are living on a fixed income and are struggling now just to survive on the little they make. How are you going to explain to them and the numerous other senior citizens and their children why you voted to cut their Medicare which is keeping them alive? How will you counter your opponent in your next campaign when they talk about how you voted to gut Medicare for the many senior citizens in our district in favor of rich corporations which will be the primary beneficiaries of the TPP?
I would also urge you to oppose TPA,the bill which will give President Obama fast track authority on negotiating TPP, but would take away Congress's ability to add amendments to address the many short comings in any agreement which may be reached. From reports I have read, TPP will not address the very serious problems of currency manipulation practiced by China and other countries which put our trade goods at a disadvantage to theirs. There also do not appear to be any truly enforceable means of ensuring that workers in Vietnam and other countries who have a minimum wage of sixty cents an hour will receive a living wage from their labor. Provisions to enable these workers to organize so they can obtain better wages and benefits would also be unenforceable as well. Approving TPP will only put even more downward pressure on American workers' wages, which have been stagnant for the past thirty plus years. If you vote for Fast Track or for the TPP itself, how can you say that you are working to reduce income inequality in this country?
Passage of TPP will enable foreign governments and corporations to challenge our health, safety, environmental and other laws, much as what Mexico and Canada have done with their challenge to our Country of Origin Labeling law under provisions of NAFTA. I noticed that you had voted to rescind the Country of Origin Labeling law, even though the law is very popular among the American people, being favored by some 90% of Americans according to one poll. I think that vote should be a wake up call to you and other members of Congress as these types of actions will only become more common under TPP.
TPP is NOT in the best interests of American workers. If you truly represent your constituents, you will vote NO on TAA, TPA and the TPP itself when they come up for votes in the House of Representatives. Thank you very much for your consideration on these issues. I will be following closely to see what you will do.