So let's put Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey in the "lets go with the way the wind blows" category when it comes to making tough stances on certain policy issues, but it appears that Senator Casey is going against the grain when it comes to supporting the TPP. Last week, through the Daily Kos, I emailed him, Toomey and, my rep, Allyson Schwartz on the TPP, and here is what Casey's staff had to say:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your thoughts on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). I appreciate hearing from you about this issue.
Since 2009, the United States has been in negotiations to participate in the TPP, a free trade agreement with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which comprises over 40 percent of global trade. The U.S. is negotiating with 11 countries regarding the potential agreement: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. These negotiations are now entering their final stages.
As a member of the Committee on Finance, I will be actively involved in reviewing potential legislation implementing the TPP and any other future free trade agreements. I have serious concerns about the TPP agreement. The agreement has not yet been finalized and I have written to President Obama on a number of occasions to express my reservations with the negotiations thus far. Previous trade agreements have failed to produce tangible benefits for everyday Americans. Instead of creating opportunities, our trade policy has too often done little more than off-shore good-paying jobs, while giving our trading partners unlimited access to our market.
Going forward, we must pursue a trade policy that rejuvenates Pennsylvania’s manufacturing base, creating jobs and a stronger middle class. As trade agreements, Trade Promotion Authority and other legislation that affect U.S. trade policy come before the Senate, you can be assured that my priority will be protecting and creating American jobs.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of importance to you.
For more information on this or other issues, I encourage you to visit my website, http://casey.senate.gov. I hope you will find this online office a comprehensive resource to stay up-to-date on my work in Washington, request assistance from my office, or share with me your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you and to Pennsylvania. (emphasis added)
On this issue, I find it encouraging that Casey isn't his fence-sitting self. Keep the pressure on the TPP because WE ARE WINNING this fight.
5:40 AM PT: The title is supposed to be wary. Made a typo and can't fix it from my phone
5:41 AM PT: The title is supposed to be wary. Made a typo and can't fix it from my phone