Posted on 12/01/2016 1:16:21 PM PST by Theoria
A last-minute fight over a “Buy America” provision has erupted in the final negotiations over a waterways bill.
At issue is language included in the Senate-passed version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that would require American iron and steel products be used in projects assisted by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
Sources familiar with the negotiations say Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is actively pushing to strip the provision from the bill.
Supporters of the provision say Ryan's push is at odds with President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to support American manufacturers and create jobs for the middle class.
Negotiations are still ongoing and nothing is finalized, according to sources. Senate Democrats are planning to make a final bid to get the language included.
It's unclear whether lead Democratic sponsors like Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) would withhold their support for the bill if the Buy America provision were dropped.
The provision, which had bipartisan support in the Senate, was not included in the House WRDA measure, which was far narrower due to jurisdictional differences between the committees.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Sources familiar with the negotiations say Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is actively pushing to strip the provision from the bill
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Of course he is, he’s a globalist backstabber who should have been Cantorized or at the very least removed as Speaker.
He has always been a Cheap Labor Express Republican, just like Eric Cantor and should have suffered the same ignominious fate.
If the goobamint lackeys can’t properly vet real specifications and qualifications, then what are we to do? Can’t hold some of these foreign entities accountable without excessive expense (if at all), so buy domestic. One has to look at real costs, not just the initial invoice.
I support the “Buy America” provision.
Any project paid for with tax dollars should use American goods and American labor.
Trump should give Ryan a call and tell him its time to put America First.
If we can’t support “America First” due to competitive business conditions that preclude the country from competing in the world economy, I would think I, as a legislator would be looking into how I can change the business environment so our country can compete rather than kicking the can down the field and just being satisfied capturing the low bid.
Ryan, what we have here is failure to communicate. That boys mind ain’t right so Trump is going to make it right.
Bad move
If Ryan likes it cheap, I can tell him some stories of gals back in Thailand. (Back when everything was curable.) Great fun was had and not much money was spent. “Fiscally Responsible” are the buzzwords.
He should give him a call and ask him point blank if he wants to be a player...or get fired...
...Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is actively pushing to strip the provision from the bill....
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Gee, I know I’m shocked.
What is wrong with those people in Wisconsin who keep voting for this twerp?
Current “Buy America” provisions in government contracting have volumes and volumes of loopholes.
It sounds good but the implementation is what matters.
There is nothing protectionist about installing a “domestic content provision” in public works projects.
Our entire military procurement should be produced by US manufacturers with 100% US produced materials.
[ Sources familiar with the negotiations say Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is actively pushing to strip the provision from the bill. ]
Well, color me shocked......
Need to check out who’s been filling Ryan’s campaign chest, openly and through false fronts.
Wouldn't they make a great cell mates?
Someone get the knife out of my back.....again.
That has theoretically been the law for over 80 years. The “Buy American Act of 1933” required that federal purchases always prefer American made products. The caveats in the bill included waivers for items unavailable from American sources or where the price difference exceeded 25% or where the purchasing agent waived at his discretion.
It needs to be taken out and dusted off with any waivers requiring a plan to make such waiver unnecessary in future. Had these waivers not been issued in the past, we would still have a TV industry, textiles industry, electronics industry, etc. Instead of letting Japan, then Korea, and now China dump until they crushed out industry.
Something I like about Trump’s cabinet picks so far is their attitude that they need to reduce regulations, but also ASK the businesses that are failing for the government causes of their failures. It is easy to say “cut regulations and tax rates” but Wilbur Ross on Bartiromo this morning sounded like he would dig into the businesses to find out exactly what needed to be cut first.
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