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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 Snotnose on Sunday June 14 2015, @12:41AM
This thing is way too secretive, and the things that have leaked are hella nasty for the average citizen. From what I've read the 1%'ers will be ecstatic over this, the rest of us will be screwed.
Speaking from a US perspective, of course.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 14 2015, @01:12AM
Politics = The 1% will get richer, the rest get screwed.
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Sunday June 14 2015, @09:47AM
I'll Take "Pragmatism" for 1%, Alex! [thecomicseries.com]
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Mr Big in the Pants on Sunday June 14 2015, @01:23AM
Nope, that is the perspective from all sides of the argument.
The people in ANY of these countries will be worse off in many fundamental ways over this. Only multi-nats benefit from this overall. (from what was leaked - its probably worse now)
Although it is amusing many US posters on this topic automatically assume the other country's special interests are the ones trying to screw over the US here...it is quite the opposite.
The agreement was a good idea until the US entered the fray. Then it was just ridiculous demands and bullying.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Snotnose on Sunday June 14 2015, @02:38AM
Although it is amusing many US posters on this topic automatically assume the other country's special interests are the ones trying to screw over the US here...it is quite the opposite.
Well informed US voter here. I have enough trouble keeping up with how my own ruling class is screwing me. I don't have time to figure out how the ruling class from other countries are screwing their citizens.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 1) by caffeinated bacon on Sunday June 14 2015, @08:07AM
Do you have time to figure out how the ruling class of other countries will screw you, if this like this get passed?
(Score: 1, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday June 14 2015, @01:27AM
But Rachel Dolezal!
Actually, that's very related, because between the life stories of Rachel Dolezal and Baraq Obama we could have a near-verbatim transcript of Frank Zappa's You are what you IS. [azlyrics.com]
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 14 2015, @03:24AM
If you're living in America, even in the shittiest parts of Camden or St. Louis, you're still part of the global 1%.
(Score: 3, Informative) by captain normal on Sunday June 14 2015, @04:14AM
Not quite, but if you sleep in a bed, have hot and cold running water, cook on a stove, have refrigeration to keep food, have a roof over your head, have a television, and drive a car you are in the top 25%.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 14 2015, @11:44AM
This is like the "There are starving African children, so your problems don't matter." non sequitur you hear often, or at least variations of it ("first world problems"). Essentially, it's just a tactic to try to legitimize someone's suffering by saying they should be thankful because it could be worse.