That is my first. The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote to pass a treaty. They can’t amend the Constitution with a vote on a bill. Evidently, things are going on undercover.
By letting Obama have his TPA it virtually guarantees passage with a 51 vote.
I get so sick of the “Don’t worry Mable, we’ll cut em off at the pass next vote!” mantra. We are such suckers.
You're correct. Unfortunately, trade agreements/pacts are just that and not "treaties". NAFTA was a trade agreement. It turned out to be detrimental to our economy and jobs, as Perot warned us. My problem is with the fast-track (TPA) authority given to any president that excludes amendments and filibuster from Congress.
However, a point could be made that the USA could rarely get any trade agreements done if left to Congress and their special interests. It's a conundrum.
I don't so much believe in free trade as much as I do in fair trade.