Extraordinary secrecy around TPP and rushing Fast track through Congress faster than a speeding bullet is part of the administration's strategy. TPP is a global corporate power grab; and Fast Track appears to be the administration's power grab.
The word came out yesterday that a vote on Fast Track will be held Friday. Michigan Congressman Sandy Levin's op-ed appeared the same day in USA Today. Levin, the ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, who could probably be described as a "Fair Trade" Democrat, writes that work on the treaty has been going on in the House:
"Negotiations on TPP are not only ongoing, but are "at a critical juncture....Many issues have not been decided, and in some areas, our negotiators need to change their negotiating strategy."
That was news to many.
A leader on trade policy for decades, Mr. Levin states, "This is the wrong time to give up congressional leverage by voting for trade promotion authority. Especially when the bill before Congress extends this authority for a full six years."
Indeed, a pre-emptive vote would scotch the objectives of negotiations. And apparently, that's the idea.
Let's hope the 19 Democrats out of 188 who have stated they will vote yes hear the message from Sen. Levin. They are, by the way: Ashford, Bera, Beyer, Blumenauer, Bonamici, Connolly, Del Bene, Cuellar, Delaney, Himes, Johnson, Kilmer, Kind, Larsen, Meeks, Polis, Quigley, Schrader, Rice. Lined up behind Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer.
Call at 202 225-4131 if one of these is your representative and you want to tell them to vote No to Fast Track.
Levin's Remarks Show the Administration Has Overreached
Levin says the Trans-Pacific Partnership "will impact our economy, jobs and wage growth for decades." So, "We better get it right."
The Michigan Congressman, hardly 'anti-trade,' is jamming on the brakes to a blatantly improper ramming of Fast Track through the House:
"The debate on trade in Congress is not about whether Democrats support trade, or whether we take the side of businesses or labor," he says, "it's about getting trade right."
A Friday vote will sabotage the ongoing House process:
"Unfortunately, the bill that passed the Senate greases the skids for the TPP as it stands right now; it doesn't improve it. Don't fast-track TPP until it is on the right track."
A veteran of trade treaties, Sandy Levin is letting us know that the treaty as it stands now does not come up to the standards established for past treaties: "Indeed, because of our efforts, the most recent trade agreements to pass Congress were updated...
We built this foundation for effective trade agreements, and we don't want to see it eroded."
And Levin speaks up for the 90% of Democratic Representatives, drawing the natural conclusion that:
"Instead of being left with a simple yes or no vote after the agreement is signed, with no ability to amend the agreement, House Democrats want to have a role now."
http://usat.ly/... via @usatoday
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