Orrin Hatch on Trade Bill: ‘I Don’t Know Fully What’s in TPP Myself’

Breitbart ^ | May 21st, 2015 | by Alex Swoyer

[Mariner]

Democrat Sens. Joe Manchin (WV) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)went to the Senate floor to push for immediate consideration of a bill that would make the Obamatrade text public — right now Congress has to go to a secured room to review the text and can’t take notes out or discuss what is in it with the public. That motion failed when Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) objected, since it required unanimous consent.

The two Democrats even praised President George W. Bush, who released his free trade text in 2001. Today, President Obama, who promised to have the most transparent administration in history, is not releasing his deal.

“We’re just asking for some transparency before we have this crucial vote,” said Warren.

[Mariner]

All of the yes voting Senators are dropping in filth.

All of them.

They can no longer even claim to be Americans.

[Mariner]

Ironically, Hatch also admits he doesn’t know what is in the TPP deal, while at the same time he objects to the push for more transparency prior to any crucial votes.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

We need to pass this bill so we can find out what’s in it.

[Mariner]

"We need to pass this bill so we can find out what’s in it."

There is no greater irony.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Why the hell is going on?

Not to sound like a nut, but I wonder is Warren plans to come sweeping into the primary at a critical moment and unhorse Hillary, and Manchin will be her running mate to appeal to the less commie wing of the 'rat party. This is just a step to set themselves up -- "the ONLY senators to motion for transparency" -- but the question remaining is, why are all the Republicans going along with this travesty?

[grania]

Did you see the list of who voted "yes" to bring the bill to the US Senate floor. Only 10 democrats did. Only a small handful of Republicans voted against that. RandPaul and Jeff Sessions voted "no"....God bless them. All of our other supposed conservatives....Cruz, Rubio, Cotton, Ernst voted with Obama and McCain. It is just too weird that the 'pubs are going to hand the issue of voting to protect the American voter to the dems.

Rand Paul's looking pretty good right about now. Cruz is getting to cute about going against constitutional conservatives and thinking we won't notice.

That's my take.

[Steve_Seattle]

Well, kudos to the Dems in this case. Warren is right and Hatch is wrong. What have we come to when the details of a major trade bill are hidden from the public, and when Republicans are the major culprits, cooperating with Obama?

[Steve_Seattle]

"Why are all the Republicans going along with this travesty?"

That is a huge question. It is a betrayal of their constituency, not to mention of the country as a whole.

[Paladin2]

Hatch continues to be a ‘tard.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

Generally speaking, in the past, I would have supported this type of legislation. I favor free trade. I favor opening markets for American goods and services. I favor lower tariffs. But after all we’ve been through with Obamacare, with the Porkulus, with Dodd-Frankenstein, rushing all of these huge, massive bills, with no one bothering to read them, much of it is secret. This is simply wrong and not the way to pass legislation. I hate being on the same side of a bill as Elizabeth Warren, but surely there must be a way to simplify these bills and make them more transparent. And it should be a requirement that every bill is thoroughly read by every legislator before it is voted on.

[Steve_Seattle]

Hatch has been trying to be Mr. Nice and Mr. Bipartisan for so long that he basically lost his integrity without even realizing it.

[Mariner]

"That is a huge question."

Chamber of Commerce money.

Payola.

Re-election money.

VERY high paying jobs for all their friends and relatives.

[TYVets]

Hatch you admit you are ignorant about the bill.

Are you going to find out what it means, or will you do something stupid by voting for it ?

[Steve_Seattle]

" . . . rushing all of these huge, massive bills, with no one bothering to read them, much of it is secret. This is simply wrong and not the way to pass legislation."

That can't be repeated often enough.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I hate to tell you I am very troubled by the vote my Prince Ted Cruz took on cloture yesterday. I don’t get what he thinks he gets out of it. It makes no sense. Why didn’t he stand with Rand and Mike Lee and Jeff Sessions? I’m having a hard time getting past this.

[paladinan]

That motion failed when Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) objected, since it required unanimous consent.

What, in the name of all that's holy, could POSSIBLY be a motive for ANYONE (much less a self-styled "Republican") to object to making the text public?? It's absolutely insane.

[grania]

I can't get past this with Ted Cruz. He was already questionable with his support of more H1B visas. It seems that the US Senate corrupts everyone unless they're principled, independent individuals. For the Republicans, it does seem that would be as you said Jeff Sessions, Mike Lee, and Rand Paul stood for us. ALL of the newbies fell in line to support cheap labor and a hidden process.

It's pretty disgusting.

[exit82]

He doesn’t know what is in it, but that won’t stop him from voting for it.

[Timber Rattler]

More from your man Hatch, Mark.

[crusher2013]

I agree, really really disappointed with Cruz now.

For me: Walker > Paul > Cruz.

I know that will upset a lot of people on FR. But I won’t support someone who works against my interests.