Continue to call senators, as Heitkamp, Cantwell, Murray and others are said to be still 'considering.'
Chris Hogarth of Daily Kos just sent out e-mail: "URGENT! Nail-biter vote in the Senate on TPP. Please call today." So please do.
A big issue is whether or nor McConnell has rolled in renewal of the Export-Import Bank to the bill. Cantwell and Murray want it as it is beneficial to Boeing in WA. Ted Cruz has said he will flip his vote to NO if it's contained in there. Republicans are passionately opposed to its renewal. Thus, the hesitancy of the WA senators.
As we can see, items have been put in and taken out of this horrid TPA bill, (written by Hatch, Wyden and Paul Ryan), and Congress is knee-deep contortions on procedures and politicking.
But the bottom line is keep calling!
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Last Night: Ron Wyden gave a full-throated endorsement of the TPA bill which he co-authored, and announced he will cast a yes vote in the Senate. Was the Oregon senator ever really wavering, or was he floating a rumor for some other purpose?
Bill Nelson of Florida, one of the 14 Democratic senators who voted for TPA in May, (photo below), thought that perhaps Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, both of Washington state, were considering changing their votes to NO. Nelson and Republican Majority Leader McConnell expressed confidence in the outcome.
The cloture vote Tuesday requires 60 votes for passage. If it is successful, TPA would be voted on the following day.
Source: http://www.agri-pulse.com/...
Ron Wyden and Patty Murray face re-election in 2016. Some have mentioned that they would like to see Rep Peter DeFazio of OR, an articulate critic of the process which has put Congress in the back seat concerning the Pacific treaty, as a primary challenger to Wyden.
Morning calls to your senators to urge a solid NO vote would certainly help.
Phone numbers and script at
http://pccc.me/.... h/t @BoldProgressive
You may choose to call Sens Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. Phone numbers below.
http://act.boldprogressives.org/... and links are below.
We can make the difference. "Your concerns are shaking up this fight."
These five Democratic senators are considered critical swing votes.
They need to hear from Democrats across the country telling them to protect American workers and families and vote NO on "fast track" cloture vote.
Sen. Maria Cantwell: (202) 224-3441
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp: (202) 224-2043
Sen. Patty Murray: (202) 224-2621...up for re-election in 2016
Sen. Mark Warner: (202) 224-2023
Sen. Ron Wyden: (202) 224-5244 ....up for re-election in 2016
Scroll down to ALERT to see script. http://pccc.me/... h/t
Scroll down to ALERT to call your own senator. http://pccc.me/.... h/t
Poll below. * = priority
There is no assurance that TAA, (benefits for workers unemployed as a result of passage of TPA, TPP) will be passed.
Are these 13 Democratic Senators Still Planning to Vote Yes on Fast Track?
There is real cause for concern that Fast Track could pass in the Senate without the renewal of TAA, benefits for workers who will be unemployed as a result of TPP passage. TAA attached to trade treaties is, and has been, a sine qua non for the Democratic Party.
Now that TPA will be a stand-alone vote in the Senate, will the President assure that TAA is renewed if TPA passes?
You decide: Although Josh Earnest told the press on Friday that...
“The only legislative strategy that the president will support is a strategy that results in both TPA and TAA coming to his desk”...
Nine hours later that day, the Wall Street Journal reported:
"Rep. Jim Himes, a pro-trade Democrat from Connecticut who met Wednesday with Mr. Obama, said the president said he would sign the fast-track bill into law before Congress had passed a bill to renew the workers’ aid program."
Hmmm. Not reassuring.
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Hillary Clinton said that if she were in the Senate today:
"I certainly would not vote for it [TPA] unless I were absolutely confident we would get Trade Adjustment Assistance." (TAA)
#Ralston Live
Nancy Pelosi said: “I don’t see a path right now for TAA.”
"House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) provided a grim outlook on Thursday about the future of legislation funding a worker aid program that will be key for pushing President Barack Obama’s trade agenda over the finish line."
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Please be sure to sign:
the CREDO Action petition urging Senate Democrats to stand strong on opposing fast tracking the TPP:
http://act.credoaction.com/....
and from Global Trade Watch, a message to your Senator to oppose Fast Track to the TPP:
http://action.citizen.org/...
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References: Josh Earnest: http://www.bloombergview.com/...
Jim Himes: http://www.wsj.com/...
Nancy Pelosi: "No Path Forward on Key Trade Measure" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
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Monday, June 22 ALERT: Script for calling Senators who voted Yes:
Hi. My name is [YOUR NAME] from [YOUR STATE].
I'm calling to urge Senator ____ to vote NO on "fast track" for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Allowing this president to use "fast track" to pass the TPP would be bad enough. For a Democrat to be responsible for someone like Scott Walker having this power next term would be unforgivable because he could use it to absolutely destroy unions.
Thank you.
http://pccc.me/... h/t
Call your own senators:
Phone numbers and script at http://pccc.me/... h/t @BoldProgressive