Say Yes! to Presidential Trade Authority!

I believe that most free trade laws are a good idea and are good for the US economy. I don't mind shipping off broom making jobs to some 3rd world country. What I do mind is sending jobs, prodcuts, and equipment overseas that have not been cleared by national security (because of Ron Brown at Commerce, etc.). It scares me to know that the US under Klinton sent China buttloads of technology in about every field (industrial, mechanical, electronic, aeronautic, manufacturing, you name it) that will come back and bite us in the future because they have used it for their military.

Being a supporter of free trade, I believe that trade agreements should be passed by Congress as stipulated by law. I don't like vesting too much power in the executive branch, but I understand that there are tons of leftist who have unions lean on congressmen to stop these sort of things from going through. Fast track authority is there to avoid this, but I am sure that rubber stamping economic treaties is good thing. Unfortunately I don't have a better idea to make a bridge between free trade and union/socialist lobby group pressure.

I believe that trade agreements should be passed by Congress as stipulated by law.

What if that law is in conflict with the Constitution? Trade agreements are treaties. The basis for ratification of treaties is set forth in the Constitution. The Constitution does not grant Congress the unilateral authority to modify the terms by which trade agreements, or other treaties, are ratified (just as Congress lacks authority to otherwise amend the terms of the Constitution outside of the provisions of Article V [which requires state participation]).

Your support for fast track authority appears to be in conflict with your expressed preference for interpretation of the Constitution. In other words, fast track authority appears to be consistent only with a living, breathing Constitution. Do you agree?

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