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The Center for American Progress reports
Democrats in the House dealt a stunning blow to the administration's trade agenda on [June 12], just hours after President Barack Obama personally lobbied lawmakers to grant him authority to negotiate several global trade deals that Congress could vote on without amending.
In the week leading up to Friday's vote, House leadership expressed optimism that it could muscle through the so-called Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), despite loud objections from most Democrats and conservative Republicans. Under the rules, the House had to pass: 1) a provision to aid workers displaced by foreign imports--Trade Assistance Authority or TAA and 2) the TPA. But Democrats, who have historically supported providing federal assistance to workers displaced by trade agreements, led a campaign to torpedo the TAA in order to kill the full bill. The TAA failed in a vote of 302 -126 and the TPA passed 219-211 (with 28 Democratic votes), meaning the overall measure will not advance to the president's desk.
House leaders promised on Friday to bring both back for a vote early next week. The Senate approved the full package earlier this month.
[...]Democrats and their allies in the labor movement have objected to the secrecy surrounding the TPP negotiations and various provisions said to be included in the deal. One section allows companies to take governments before an arbitration tribunal and argue that certain regulations interfere with their bottom line. Another would would delay the introduction of generic versions of life-saving pharmaceuticals. Progressives have also criticized the deal for failing to adequately enforce labor and environmental standards and prohibit the Pacific Area countries from manipulating their currencies.
Additional coverage at The New York Times , The Washington Post , pbs.org, and C-SPAN.
Original Submission
(Score: 5, Informative) by K_benzoate on Sunday June 14 2015, @12:27AM
I have in the past criticized the Republicans (and some Democrats) for being obstructionist; opposing Obama by default just to frustrate his administration and prevent any meaningful work at all. Yet I can't help but be thankful for it this time. It's the primary reason we didn't even get to debate a Single Payer option during the ACA debate. Obama has become more and more conservative every year, as has the mainstream Democratic party. Hillary is going to be even worse if she wins the nomination (see my sig).
The American people are largely in the dark about this trade agreement, but those who have been able to get glimpses (thanks, Wikileaks) don't like what they see. This is a massive crony-capitalist, anti-worker, anti-middle class, project.
Contact your representatives. [eff.org] This agreement isn't dead yet.
Climate change is real and primarily caused by human activity.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 14 2015, @12:33AM
So you're a hypocrite. The system is "broken" until by chance it just happens to work in your favor, then you say it "works".
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Sunday June 14 2015, @12:36AM
Those favors may be in the short term. Broken systems tend to collapse and take everybody with them.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by K_benzoate on Sunday June 14 2015, @02:42AM
Reply to myself to clear up a bit of confusion. I made it sound like I was thankful for Republican obstruction of a Public Option in the ACA. I meant that as an example of something I disliked. I wish we could have at least had a proper debate on it.
Shutting down the TPP is crucial, and if some Republicans do that for us because they hate Obama, that's fine with me. As long as it doesn't pass I don't care that their motivations are to just oppose Obama no matter what, and not a real objection to TPP itself.
Climate change is real and primarily caused by human activity.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday June 14 2015, @06:38PM
I wish we could have at least had a proper debate on it.
For the brief period of time when your side controlled both branches of Congress and the Presidency? Democracy doesn't work like that. And given how badly the Democrats lost just with this watered down approach, I bet their losses would have been even more spectacular with an even more delusional approach.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 16 2015, @12:29AM
Because Democrats are a homogeneous group all working towards the same goal, and mock and ridicule fellow democrats as "DINO"s if they dare step outside the party line even a little.
(Score: 1) by Absolutely.Geek on Sunday June 14 2015, @10:08PM
I'm thankful also that this has happened. As a New Zealander; the TPPA is pure madness; it will allow other countries / companies to effectivly set our laws. Especially around copyright and pharmaceuticals. Labour laws will be up for grabs along with safe working practices that are codified into law.
The more and greater road blocks to its implementation the better.
Don't trust the police or the government - Shihad: My mind's sedate.