[Erik Latranyi]

It is extremely difficult for any U.S. President to negotiate significant trade deals if he cannot assure other nations that Congress will refrain from adding numerous amendments and conditions that must then be taken back to the negotiating table.

That is how the Founders wanted it. Equal branches of government having equal input into any agreements. The President does not have the power to negotiate on behalf of this nation by himself. Congress gets to add their input....especially at the end, before the deal is complete....and certainly not in a "take it or leave it" vote.

Without TPA, the President is denied an equal footing when he attempts to negotiate trade agreements on behalf of America.

Boo-hoo! Our President does not speak for the nation or have more power than anyone else. If other nations like dictators, let them have them...we do not need to follow suit.

The TPA legislation currently being debated (H.R. 3005) is clearly constitutional because Congress retains its authority to approve or reject all future trade agreements.

LIE!!! It takes only 51 votes to approve a trade deal and 60 to kill it versus the Constitutional 67 to ratify.

The Constitution grants each house of Congress the authority to establish its own rules of procedure, and it makes perfect sense for Congress to limit itself to straight up-or-down votes on certain resolutions, such as base closures and its own adjournment motions.

Unfortunately, this is not a resolution....but a binding TREATY with another nation....and Congress does not have the authority to change its Constitutional powers, which specifically say a treaty must be ratified by 67 votes in the Senate.

The bottom line here folks, is that there is a whole lotta money involved in these trade deals. Many people are going to enrich themselves. They will kick some of that money into the campaigns of those who support this travesty.

But, because the old, outdated Constitutional method for ratifying agreements with other nations is too DIFFICULT, the greedy have conspired together to shortcut the Constitutional protections and create this Fast Track nonsense so they can ram through trade deal after trade deal with little or no consideration for the welfare of this nation or its citizens.

[TNMOUTH]

Just posting what they originally said at the Heritage Foundation.

[semimojo]

That is how the Founders wanted it. Equal branches of government having equal input into any agreements. The President does not have the power to negotiate on behalf of this nation by himself. Congress gets to add their input....especially at the end, before the deal is complete....and certainly not in a "take it or leave it" vote.

How would this work in practice? Would each of the 535 have a seat at the table? How could anyone actually determine the US's position?

There's a reason the executive is given the authority to negotiate for the US, subject to the input and approval of congress.