Posted on 05/12/2015 1:51:20 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
A controversy has emerged about whether granting the president Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) would result in expanded immigration. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), chair of the Senate’s immigration subcommittee, has written, “There are numerous ways TPA could facilitate immigration increases above current law – and precious few ways anyone in Congress could stop its happening.”
To negotiate international trade agreements, a U.S. president needs Trade Promotion Authority. TPA allows a president to finalize an agreement and put it before the U.S. Congress for an up-or-down vote. Without such authority, other countries would not conclude trade agreements with the United States, since amendments in Congress could scuttle the terms of previously agreed upon measures. As a recent National Foundation for American Policy analysis points out, both the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) would yield significant economic gains to the U.S. economy and enhance American influence in Asia and Europe.
Several holes exist in the theory that granting Trade Promotion Authority will increase immigration. First, Trade Promotion Authority is not the final step in the legislative process. After an international agreement is negotiated, Congress must approve the agreement via implementing legislation. There is no evidence that including immigration provisions in an agreement would gain any votes in Congress. In fact, it appears more likely to lose votes, given at least some members antipathy towards immigration. Given that passage of any trade agreement is not guaranteed it would make no sense for the Obama Administration to attempt to “slip in” immigration provisions.
In other words, one does not need to “trust” the Obama Administration but only trust it will act in its own self-interest. The president wants a trade agreement to pass Congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Trust Obama? FUBO!!
Given Obama’s track record in protecting all things American, should not his insistence on this agreement be viewed with suspicion?
Yes and the fact that the Democrats in R jerseys are tripping over themselves to help him do this should set off alarm bells.
Sessions and Lee are the very best.
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