Cruz: TPA Doesn’t Give Obama More Power, Jeff Sessions ‘Not Accurate’ On TPP

Breitbard ^ | 06/12/2015 | Ian Hanchett

[SoConPubbie]

Texas Senator and GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) argued Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) “is not giving the president more authority” and that Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) is “not accurate” in some of his claims regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on Friday’s broadcast of “The Kuhner Report” on Boston’s WRKO.

Cruz argued that he had been the staunchest opponent of President Barack Obama in Congress. He then separated TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) and the TPP (the Trans-Pacific Partnership). He touched on TPA first, stating that “history has demonstrated, the only way to get a trade agreement adopted is with fast-track. Since FDR, consistently, for 80 years, presidents in both parties have had fast-track. Anytime fast-track has lapsed, trade agreements don’t get negotiated.” He later added that it was a “misunderstanding” to say TPA gave away the Senate’s treaty power. Cruz stated that “Under the Constitution, there are two ways to make binding law. Number one, you can pass a treaty ratified by 2/3ds of the Senate. Or number two, you can pass legislation passed by a majority of both of houses of Congress and signed by the president. … TPA uses the second constitutional path.” And “it’s been long recognized that the Constitution’s Origination Clause applies to trade bills, which means the House of Representatives has to be involved. There’s a reason why trade bills have historically not been done as treaties, because the Constitution says that anything concerning the raising of revenues, and trade bills concern tariffs, which are the raising of revenues, has to originate in the House of Representatives. So, the process of approving a trade agreement through both houses of Congress has been the way it has been done for roughly a century. And it is not giving the president more authority.”

Regarding TPP, Cruz said

[SoConPubbie]

Very confused here. If obozo the assclown is for something then I’m against it. And if nazi pelosi is against something them I’m for it.

So if Obozo tomorrow supported the absolute cessation of all abortions, you'd be against that too, right?!

[SoConPubbie]

I wonder why Marco Rubio gets a pass on this.

You, and I, both know the answer to that rhetorical question. The goal is to keep any REAL conservative from the POTUS chair. Rubio doesn't meet that rating/definition with his whole-hearted support for Amnesty.

[dp0622]

I guess because he wasn’t really liked by conservatives to begin with and Cruz had a large following. he has been misunderstood imho, and I am still for him.

[pgyanke]

ABSOLUTELY NOT SO Mr Cruz, see Obamacare.

Love ya Ted but you are either wrong on that statement or silent on the biggest boondoggle to ever pass a Congress.

By the biggest technicality in the history of politics, Obamacare did originate in the House. That's what they hand their hats on, at least. The bill number they used had originated in the House... never mind the fact that they stripped everything out of that bill and replaced it with unconstitutional nonsense.

Ted is very strongly against Obamacare. He is consistent in his views and constitutional analysis. He is, however, but one voice among 535. Thankfully, because of the power of truth, he is a strong voice... but he can't undo all of this crap on his lonesome.

[RitaOK]

All I know is that it really should have been Ted Cruz sounding the alarm on this stinker. Instead, after the fact, I hear Gomert of Texas and also a representative from Kentucky on the House floor, following the vote, saying that the voluminous bill was UNFINISHED on its face, chucked full of asterisks indicating that this or that point was still being negotiated, and also that up the president would have carte blanche to add approximately 20% more to the dang thing.

An UNKNOWN 20%.

WTH votes for something like that? What could be done historically as a matter of course, under this president, can never be and should not be even considered. The creep has nearly two years left to further “fundamentally transform”.

I feel like Cruz should have considered the present reality and not the historic practice of old, back when representatives still had the best interests of the United States at heart.

I even think Cruz owes his supporters an apology. I honestly don’t think he read it, or else he missed the gaps big as a barn door, for a dirty president to run through.

[SoConPubbie]

TPA has been around for about 10 Presidents, give or take, both Democrat and Republican.

TPA has always "dealt away" the amendment process, that's why it is called fast-track.

[Jean2]

Well I guess that means that Cruz is done for. A pity really; I actually liked him the best of the lot.

[houeto]

He certainly doesn’t sound like some one from Alabama.

[SoConPubbie]

Well I guess that means that Cruz is done for. A pity really; I actually liked him the best of the lot.

Yea right!

You keep thinking that. I'll remind you of that ignorant statement when Ted Cruz is being sworn in as POTUS.

[txhurl]

Ted’s willingness to ditch his base over this means there are things he wants us to learn about the whole issue.

You can be sure his political opponents are breathless at his braveness on the issue.

Who knows what’s in the classified sections? that half the members of the Pacific countries might be savaged by earthquakes and tsunamis in the near future, stuff like that? I despise the secrecy too but there is something that made Ted take his stand.

I’m looking forward to candid explanations from him this weekend.. this has been the most miserable political week I can remember.

[cripplecreek]

The saddest part of this whole episode is how easily conservatives are manipulated and led like sheep. Just look at who populates these threads. Among the regular Freeps are the RINO troll army. They consist if the n00bs who "used to support Cruz" and the primary season Freeps who may have been here for years but only show up for primary season to raise "concerns" about conservatives.

It is interesting how quickly this infighting starts when the Romney people start joining the campaigns. Honestly, if conservatives are dumb enough to continue falling for this crap election after election, we really do deserve a Bush/Clinton race.

As far as the candidates/potential candidates are concerned, I haven't looked at them all but so far Perry, Walker and Jindal have all supported TPP or equivelent treaties. Rubio voted for it.

Amid Secrecy, Rick Perry Retracts Obamatrade Support: ‘I Would Rather Barack Obama Not Be Negotiating for Me’

In May a spokesman for Perry told Breitbart News that he supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)—one of three largely secretive trade deals that would be fast-tracked by Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). But he’s changed his position.

TPP Proponents Close to Clinton Remain Optimistic About Her Support

Scott Walker had this to say.

Well, I talked about TTIP the other day in Germany in Hanover at the industrial fair there, and I think fair and open trade is a good thing on either side of the continent for the United States, whether it’s on the Atlantic or the Pacific. Obvious the details need to be worked out and there’s a lot of details including some specific to my state that need to be worked out. But I think in the end, having a deal that’s fair and offers fair and open trade would be a good thing for the United States and for our trading partners.

Bobby Jindal talks economic development, TPP with Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou

While the negotiations were discussed, Plotkin said Jindal will take a position on the agreement when final terms are agreed to: "We are optimistic and hopeful about expanded trade with this part of the world. So we are hopeful about the TPP.

For those who are OK with trashing Cruz to protect your candidate, Just remember, those Romney people on the campaign WILL eat your candidate before they're done and despite any fantasies to the contrary, you won't be able to stop it.

And finally Ted Cruz in his own words. (Starting at 52 minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sznh5AjageI&feature=youtu.be

[tennmountainman]

I like Cruz but I trust Sessions.

I heard not heard one word fro Cruz demanding this secret bill be made public.

And that is a no no for me.

[wolfman23601]

Who’s left? Jeb Bush?

[onyx]

Too much secrecy in the agreement.

SUNSHINE!

I’m happy with the HOUSE VOTE.

Senator Cruz is the smartest of all, I await his thorough review and explanation.

[SoConPubbie]

I like Cruz but I trust Sessions

Let's see, Cruz regularly is 95+ on all conservative rating agencies and Sessions is around 82.

Cruz has ALWAYS led in conservative fights, Sessions is very, very respectable, but no where near Cruz in this area.

Cruz has ALWAYS been unafraid to jump in against GOP Leadership, Sessions, once again, is very, very respectable, but again, no where near Cruz, in this area as well.

Finally, where it really counts, Cruz MEMORIZED the constitution when he was 13, and has won 13 Supreme Court cases, ALL Of them conservative in nature.

Between Sessions and Cruz, with regards to TRUST, I'll take Ted Cruz Every Single Time!

I heard not heard one word fro Cruz demanding this secret bill be made public.

And that is a no no for me.

Then you needed to pay closer attention, there have been at least 2 articles posted where Senator Cruz has stated that very thing.

[chris37]

As I understand it, the senate is and has been precluded form adding amendments to such deals negotiated between the president and other world leaders, because, basically, if a deal is negotiated and agreed to by two leaders, and then congress comes along and adds other things to it, it will become some other than what was agreed to.

I don’t see anything particularly wrong with that concept.

I would prefer that Obama not be empowered, or be entrusted with any further power, but I am also not opposed to Ted Cruz or others voting in favor of free trade in a bill that is not classified or secret.

I would rather they wait until Obama is not president. That is my preference. But if they want to do it now, I would not hold it against those who support it.

I do not support any sort of secret legislation, however.

And if anyone was to vote for a bill at anytime that the public was never allowed to read, such as what happened with Obamacare, then I would not be able to support that person.

It is my understanding that TPP would become declassified and the text made available for viewing for 60 days prior to any vote occurring on it.

[trisham]

Well said.

[Paulie]

“I wonder why Marco Rubio gets a pass on this.”

I don’t know that he will (I assume from what you say Rubio was for the agreement?). The vote was only a few house ago, maybe give it time to surface.

My concern is twofold: 1) After obamacare the Congress should have zero tolerance for anything but full and timely disclosure on all matters pertaining to the people’s business, and 2) What’s the hurry? Is waiting until Feb 2017 going to make that much difference? Let’s wait until we have a CIC we can trust.

[RS_Rider]

“I wonder why Marco Rubio gets a pass on this”

It’s news because Rubio is known “establishment”.

[Jean2]

Perhaps you are right. All I want to know is if this is the way we can expect things to go when/if he becomes. I still like the guy; don’t get me wrong. All I am saying is I don’t want him becoming a typical RINO.