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.

 

[TBP]

Isolationist n. : anyone not in complete agreement with the progressive globalist internationalist worldview; someone not in support of eliminating national sovereignty.

[Jane Long]

I still don’t get the up or down vote vs debate. What am I missing? TIA.
****
That part I do not understand. Are we sure that is the case?

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Under TPA, Obama and the next president — over the next six years — would have the ability to negotiate trade deals without Congress making modifications or amendments. >>>Congress only gets an up or down vote.<<< In the past 40 years, no fast-track trade deals have ever been stopped by Congress, as Breitbart News earlier reported.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/05/23/republicans-fold-on-obamatrade-vote-yay-without-key-amendments/

[EternalVigilance]

There ya go.

I guess it would only be fair for me to therefore call them “transnationalist traitors,” right?

[Jane Long]

Congress is voting themselves into obsolescence by pre-emptivly acquiescing 2/3rds majority treaty votes with simple majority votes to let the executive branch do what they want.

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That’s what I’m thinking! And, why Sen Cruz would be for this, is just mind-boggling. Is there something I’m/we’re missing?

[odawg]

I didn’t say that free trade is the sole cause of anything. It just makes it much worse, according to all economic indicators. I suppose you have heard about Ford building a new plant in old Mexico. The reason is, of course, that labor is cheaper in Mexico. Before the free trade agreements, such as NAFTA, manufactured goods coming into the United States from Mexico had a tariff applied to them. Now Ford can take advantage of the low wages and there will be no tariff on the product that wipes out the wage savings. So Ford moves the manufacturing outside the United States, taking the jobs with them.

” and there have been many jobs created that would not have happened otherwise.”

The exact same argument is made for illegal immigration. The AFL-CIO would disagree with you. The AFL-CIO is against illegal immigration, for a change.

[cripplecreek]

One of the good things we did in Michigan was to eliminate the business property tax.

Its ridiculous that a company should pay a tax year after year simply because they own a machine that produces parts or a desk where business is conducted.

[longtermmemmory]

actually they have cut out the voices of citizens. Once the SECRET deal is revealed there is ZERO means to redress grievances to our representatives. (1st amendment right)

[SoConPubbie]

Hey Jane,

here is some more information from CATO.org on the so-called "secrecy" issues:

According to Senator Wyden:

This time, Trade Promotion Authority does much more than before. We have long questioned why, if somebody believes in trade and wants more of it, they would insist on keeping agreements secret. This time, TPA will require information about U.S. positions on future treaties to be publicized as they are made. There is more to be done, but we’re finally bringing sunlight into the trade process.

This is a genuinely new addition to TPA and to the trade agreement negotiating process.  The current bill would require the administration to provide public summaries of its negotiating positions.  This will give the public something concrete to debate without having to resort to conspiracy claims or wild theories.  It will also help everyone see more clearly how negotiators intend to implement the negotiating objectives of TPA.

It will also require that every member of Congress has access to the full text of the negotiations from beginning to end.

This mirrors the current policy of the administration, which was written into the 2014 TPA bill in an effort to make it official.  The current bill addresses an obvious complaint by additionally ensuring that not only members of Congress but some members of their staff can see the drafts as well.  The fact that members of the President’s own party are clamoring for this privilege shows how much distrust there is between the White House and Congressional Democrats on this issue.

For the treaty currently under negotiation, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as all future agreements, TPA will require that the entire text be made public for 60 days before the president signs it. That means a deal will be public for at least four months before Congress votes on whether to approve it.

This too is something brand new in the current bill.  In the past, TPA has required various act be done prior to signing an agreement.  These are still in place in the new bill. The President has to notify Congress of his intent to sign the agreement 90 days before doing so and has to provide Congress with a list of required changes to U.S. law more than 60 days before signing.  There are also mandated delays between signing the treaty and introducing the implementing legislation in Congress. 

All in all, the fast track process is not especially fast, and this additional requirement of publishing the text 60 days before signing won’t slow it down any.  However, it will mean that the text is publicly available for longer before Congress votes.

Another new thing in this year’s TPA bill is the creation of a “Chief Transparency Officer” within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to “coordinate transparency in trade negotiations.”  It will be very interesting to see whether and how this official impacts the negotiating process.

[SoConPubbie]

actually they have cut out the voices of citizens. Once the SECRET deal is revealed there is ZERO means to redress grievances to our representatives. (1st amendment right)

B.S.

Where does all this out-right conspiracy crap come from?

You still have the ability to address your issues to your Senator, have your Senator push a new bill to correct the problem, and if that doesn't work, vote out your senator, etc.

Same things you had before this bill you will have after this bill.

[SoConPubbie]

I didn’t say that free trade is the sole cause of anything. It just makes it much worse, according to all economic indicators.

Probably true.

Anymore, I don't trust any study as they are routinely manipulated by both the Left, and even those who are supposed to be on our side.

[G Larry]

I’m for Ted....but....
Sen. Sessions Myth Busts TPA

>http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/05/20/sen-sessions-myth-busts-obama-trade-effort/<

Myth: Trade agreements implemented under fast-track will not supersede existing U.S. law.

[VTenigma]

I have some disagreements with TC namely immigration and the TPA, II need more information to fully understand his position. I also have some disagreements with some here on “free trade”. These agreements do not promote true “free trade”.

[ripnbang]

There is no justification, period, for enabling the Obama Regime on anything.

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Your are correct!

[SoConPubbie]

Jane,

That does not cut out debate.

It does cut out the ability to make amendments.

Two different things.

[Jane Long]

Thanks, SCP. I just hope it doesn’t turn out like Boehner’s “We’ll post EVERY bill up for a vote, online, for at least 3 days prior to the vote”...or whatever nonsense he promised...and, didn’t follow through on.

Call me skeptical, but I just don’t trust DC when they say “trust us, we’re going to have transparency”. Wonder why that is ;-/

[ripnbang]

There is no justification, period, for enabling the Obama Regime on anything.

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You are correct!

[SoConPubbie]

Call me skeptical, but I just don’t trust DC when they say “trust us, we’re going to have transparency”. Wonder why that is ;-/

you've got a point there Jane!

[Georgia Girl 2]

Well NAFTA has worked so well. (sarc)

[Jane Long]

The President has to notify Congress of his intent to sign the agreement 90 days before doing so and has to provide Congress with a list of required changes to U.S. law more than 60 days before signing.

With 0bie, Midge and Bonehead in charge of the henhouse....what could possibly go wrong? /s

a.) 0bie no longer follows ANY rules, and

b.) Midge and Weeper just look the other way, when he doesn't!

(Can you sense my frustration on this?)

[astroaddict]

I am not in favor of any legislation, the details of which are unknown before enactment.

That is NOT what is happening here. Quit repeating misinformation and lies.

There will be no free trade deal enacted where the details aren't known. That is a LIE!