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Legislation key to US President Barack Obama's trade agenda has passed a key hurdle in the Senate, just two weeks after it appeared to have failed.
The bill known as the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) or, more commonly, Fast Track, makes it easier for presidents to negotiate trade deals.
Supporters see it as critical to the success of a 12-nation trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The bill is expected to pass a final vote in the Senate on Wednesday.
Tuesday's 60-37 vote - just barely meeting the required 60 vote threshold - is the result of the combined efforts of the White House and many congressional Republicans to push the bill through Congress, despite the opposition of many Democrats.
This is primarily a tech news site, and it's generally good to avoid political news, but the TPP is a huge trade deal, negotiated in secret, that will have large ramifications for the world economy that affects us all, and that also has large implications for the accountability of major world governments to their citizens.
Original Submission
(Score: 4, Interesting) by bob_super on Wednesday June 24 2015, @06:15PM
Courtesy of polarization and filibustering, many US bills are actually passed with the chambers almost full.
I've seen many pictures of major laws passed in other countries with barely 10% of the elected people voting (and a few fun moments when minority parties flooded an otherwise empty chamber to get majority bills rejected).
The threshold for a bill to pass should always be based on the eligible voters, and missing lawmakers should be fined a percentage of their income (including campaign funds) if they exceed n sick days.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 25 2015, @02:41AM
It's typical for a body that takes votes to have a requirement for a quorum. [google.com]
What you claim does sound extremely undemocratic.
I wonder if the photos you referenced aren't taken during *debate* or some such.
I know that some USA congresscritters take to the floor of a nearly-empty chamber during evening hours in order to read things into the record.
.
Though I seem to be picking on you repeatedly today, you shouldn't take it personally.
It'll be somebody else's turn tomorrow. 8-)
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday June 25 2015, @05:53AM
Nope, some assemblies indeed have no quorum, or have rules allowing one guy to vote for half his party-mates.
I am saddened by the fact that I grew up in a place which allows politicians to be paid while not actually bothering to sit in session.