Posted on 05/14/2015 10:05:03 AM PDT by GIdget2004
The Senate took an initial step toward picking up President Obama’s trade agenda on Thursday by approving a controversial customs bill that includes language cracking down on currency manipulation by trading partners.
The legislation was easily approved in a 78-20 vote. Under rules adopted for the vote, 60 votes were needed for the measure to pass.
GOP presidential hopefuls Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) voted no, while Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), another 2016 GOP candidate, voted yes. So did Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), who is considering a 2016 run.
Democrats had demanded a vote on the bill in exchange for supporting a later vote that would allow the Senate to begin debate on fast-track trade legislation, a key legislative priority for Obama. That vote is scheduled for 2 p.m. Supporters of the currency manipulation language frame the customs bill as a trade enforcement measure, and the vote gives some cover for Democrats who want to back fast-track.
It’s unclear, however, whether the customs bill will be picked up by the House. The Obama administration also doesn’t support the measure. It warned ahead of the vote on Thursday that the currency provisions “raise highly problematic questions” about if the legislation would violate current international trade agreements, though it stopped short of a veto threat.
The fast-track legislation would allow Obama to send a trade pact he is negotiating with Asian and Latin American countries to Congress for an up-or-down vote. Congress would not be able to amend the legislation under fast-track.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
How does Cruz justify this traitorous act ?
How does Paul or Sessions ??
These men are owned by K street and Wall Street .
This is the most corrupt Congress in my lifetime and maybe in 100 years !
We are being sold out and suckered punch. Now if this passes and it looks bad Obama will be able to flood the USA with hundreds of millions of 3rd world immigrants who will take away our jobs.If this bill passes the USA is over
I am with Warren on this. If the bill is so great make it public.
Cruz, Sessions, Lee , Paul, etc all voted YES on the cloture vote.
The USA is over.
“The USA is over.”
Yes, agreed. And here all of us sit, still depending on a bunch of bought and paid for “representatives” to do what we all need to be doing. Those of us able should be standing in front of the Whitehouse demanding that this President be removed along with his regime. What is it about Americans that make them think they can take care of everything with a keyboard? Most of them think that the wars, upheavals, conflicts and rebellions are for other nations and that we’re just too, too special and enlightened to ever have to engage in anything like that again. Maybe not. Maybe most Americans would rather bend over and grab their ankles than to dirty their hands for an idea like freedom. Fear of tyrants is what got us here. Fear of a tyrannical government and what it could take away from us and, most importantly, our families. Guess what? We’re going to lose all that anyway because we sat on our hands and let politicians sell us for votes.
Our government has stopped being for us and is clearly working against us. Yes, the USA is over.
I agree with what you say. sorry for the late response but I am so depressed after seeing Obama destroy the USA, including his upcoming takeover of the Internet, fast track etc. It’s hard for me to write or post I’m so angry and depressed at Obama for ruining the USA and opportunity in the USA.
I can relate to how you feel. I have those times too. I don’t know what your beliefs are, but my faith is the only thing that’s keeping me going. The Bible foretells all this and more. Jesus told us not to be troubled when we see these things happening. I must admit I fall short because I stay troubled and have been ever since this imposter President of ours was elected. It isn’t as if a lot of Americans didn’t know something was wrong. But we just had to be “diverse”. I’m also not one of those Christians who believe we’re just supposed to give in to evil without a fight. The thing is, we have to have the Almighty with us or nothing will succeed. I think we’ve forgotten that and that’s why this is happening to America.
I’ll pray for peace for you, me and our country. Be blessed.
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