Why Ted Cruz is Right on TPA

Reclaim DC ^ | May 22, 2015 | David Serenda

[SoConPubbie]

It has been said that politics makes strange bedfellows. Well, there is no finer example of that statement than the recent votes on the Trade Promotion Authority. Free trade has long been advanced by conservatives who understand the need to expand our markets beyond our borders. On the other side stands the democrats and the radical left who fear competition and doubt America’s exceptionalism. Yesterday, the Senate cleared the 60 vote hurdle to bring the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) up for a vote. I for one, welcome President Obama to the side of common sense solutions, to help solve the economic disaster that his domestic policies have created. I only wish that he would use that common sense more often.

 

If you have listened to Ted Cruz speak on the economy, you will hear him promote the idea of free trade. One of the many reasons I support Ted Cruz for President is his common sense solutions to solve America’s economic problems. America has experienced a trade deficit for as long as I can remember. A large part of that stems from poorly negotiated trade deals in the past, high tariffs being placed on American products by foreign governments, and currency manipulation. The TPA is a step in the right direction to resolve many of the trade imbalance issues and will provide a set of strict guidelines for negotiations.

 

What exactly is TPA or fast track? I am glad you’ve asked. Trade Promotion Authority, TPA, and Fast Track all refer to the same piece of legislation. First, it is important to note that TPA is not a trade agreement in and of itself, but rather Congress establishing a set of requirements that the President must follow in every trade deal he submits through the TPA “fast track” legislation. By Congress authorizing this legislation they are able to have a part in the terms of the negotiations that take place with foreign governments. In addition to controlling the outline of any trade deal, they are able to force the President to share with them the details of any trade deals as he is negotiating. There are many opportunities for Congress to read and be involved in these negotiations if they really had a desire. There is also a requirement for public summaries to be released throughout the process of the negotiations. Once the trade agreement is completed it must be made available to the public before Congress is able to vote on it.

 

Without the TPA the President is able to negotiate any trade deal without any input from Congress or the American people. Even more alarming the President has the authority to conduct these negotiations in secret and only make them public when he submits them to Congress for approval. Once in Congress the process of buying votes and adding poison pills to the legislation corrupts the entire process. If we know anything about Washington, it is that its corruption runs deeper than the oceans. For these reasons previous Congress, both democratic and republican, have authorized “fast track” legislation.

 

As with anything in politics there are groups who, in an effort to promote their ideology of isolationism, will put out misinformation in order to derail legislation that they oppose. As with anything you read or hear about legislation coming out of Washington, familiarize yourself with not only the facts of the legislation, but any potential bias or agenda the author may be hiding.

 

[astroaddict]

Of course I am. Don’t you know that anyone who speaks in favor of free trade is obviously in the bag for elite K-Street crony billionaires?

Reynolds Wrap is on sale I hear.

[TNMOUTH]

Dont bother with these freepers. They are completely wacked out...calling Cruz a traitor and treasonous because they have an agenda.

He voted his conscience. They can accept this bill or not...but since multiple posts and stories say the same thing, and these people still call BS, you know they never supported Cruz.

Cruz is the only real Conservative with a chance to win...these trolls know it.

[Stentor]

“Chief Transparency Officer”

Hilarious Orwellian crap.

[boycott]

So senators had to read the bill in private. They weren’t allowed to bring a phone or copy any part of it. They haven’t been allowed to talk about it.

Nothing in the TPP that will be secret? Sounds like something is secret.

By the way, was it your worthless blog that was linked or are you the author of what was posted?

[Stentor]

Go get some more tinfoil for your hat.

I see your a proponent of a kind of Godwin's law, where you accuse everyone who disagrees with you of being a conspiracy theorist. That's just being a moron with an axe to grind. You're on someone's payroll. They're wasting their money.

[odawg]

I HAVE studied economics, thank you. Americans can NEVER compete against slave labor in the third world countries. Plus the other countries aren’t dealing straight; they are blocking us out from their markets, stealing our “superior infrastructure and technology”, etc. Japan rose to an economic giant last century by NOT engaging in free trade. Ford plans on building a two billion dollar plant in Mexico, thanks to free trade agreements. That is a metaphor for what has happened and what will continue to happen. Add to that what is going on with H1-B visa holders replacing Americans here (I’m sure you are familiar with that, in your study of economics), which is something Cruz loves.

[VTenigma]

Yeah, I’m not ready to throw him under the bus just yet.

[ek_hornbeck]

Americans can NEVER compete against slave labor in the third world countries.

Not to mention the fact that our industries can't compete against those that are allowed to dump toxic sludge raw into rivers or into the ground. "Free trade" with China and other Third World country basically means that our manufacturers who are burdened with environmental and safety standards (some of which are sensible and necessary, other less so) have to compete against companies who simply don't have that overhead. The equivalent would be EPA/OSHA telling GM that it's exempt from all environmental and worker safety regulation while Ford is not, and calling this a "Free Market."

[boycott]

Agreed.

Senators had to read the bill in private. They were not allowed to take phones or cameras when viewing the bill. They agreed to not write down or talk about anything they read.

Yeah, sounds secret to me.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

bkmk

[alstewartfan]

Ted is the best we have, even though I bitterly disagree with him on this issue. Bob

[Roland]

The entire argument about transparency and amendments is a smoke screen. The primary purpose of TPA is to remove the Senate supermajority requirement, without this the bill will not pass. Once 0 is given fast track the bill cannot be amended anyway. I suspect there will be several Senators who will shift to no votes, to save face, on an unpopular TPP (once we finally see what’s in it) knowing that they have already ensured passage through their support of TPA. I sincerely hope Cruz is not one of them as this type of political deception is not tolerable (imo).

By the way I do not support free trade agreements for the following reasons. Free trade has a negative effect on our trade deficit. Following passage of NAFTA in 1994 our trade deficit with Mexico and Canada exploded as shown by the below statistics.

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c2010.html

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c1220.html

While I cannot PROVE that free trade effects US jobs (this is still open to debate depending on what set of statistics you use) it is highly logical that the effect is negative. Why would manufacturers choose to maintain operations in countries with higher costs due to wages and regulation when there is no import penalty? (I agree that our government over-regulates although that is separate to this debate) This view is supported by the lack of nominal wage growth and shift in jobs from manufacturing to lower paying service jobs.

Ultimately free trade is a gift to the corporations (who have lobbied for and who’s representatives are currently involved in the negotiations) at the expense of people who are simply trying to find a decent job to support their family. If you are in this category it is not in your best interest. If however your standard of living is not attributed to earned income but rather dividends or investments it would make sense to support it.

[crosdaddy]

Bingo,you win

[Roland]

Sorry, my first link was bad.

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c2010.html

[RginTN]

Has Cruz read the TPA? or is he basing his support on what he thinks the TPA is???

[ObamahatesPACoal]

Alex Nowrasteh said Cruz is under-rated on mass legal immigration.

[bobby.223]

Dittos to that! NOTHING the muslim boy Barry and his regime are for is in anyway GOOD for America.....PERIOD! Yet there are those going along with this ‘Trade’ crap as okay, completely looking the other way as our own guys betray us! Yep, let’s all support the muslim’s wonderful plans for our Country!

[conservativejoy]

Cruz is proposing deregulation across the board. It is one of his major policy issues.

[HarleyLady27]

ONE of greatest freedoms.....is free speech...and I will have it the rest of my life....as you do also....have a great day....

[conservativejoy]

No one seems to wonder why Dems voted against TPA and conservatives voted for it.