Posted on 06/20/2015 7:55:29 AM PDT by GIdget2004
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz blew away another gathering of religious conservative leaders this week, preaching about threats to religious freedom to a receptive and hungry crowd.
"I will never, ever, ever shy away from standing up and defending the religious liberty of every American," the GOP White House hopeful thundered at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's "Road to Majority" conference in Washington.
"Religious liberty has never been more threatened in America than right now today," Cruz added.
Cruz hit all the right notes and could easily be declared the winner of the three-day conference, which wraps up Saturday. But despite the good receptions at events like these, Cruz's work on stage is not translating to the campaign trail. He not only lags behind in early state polls, but also in organization. And despite being the first major presidential candidate to declare this cycle, early state activists are baffled by how little they say they have seen Cruz.
"I've always thought that Ted Cruz was kind of the perfect caucus candidate," said Craig Robinson, who runs "The Iowa Republican" website and is a former political director for the state party. "But what we haven't seen is a real commitment to the state."
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
Trade Agreements are Agreements and not Treaties. They contain tariffs and revenues and the Constitution requires approval of both Houses of Congress.
TPA mandates that the Congress be involved in the negotiations and restricts what the President can and can’t do, requiring him to report regularly to Congress. TPA also mandates that any agreement be made public for 60 days before a vote. We have none of these protections now. Now everything is secret and we will not know what the agreement is.
No problem.
Hard to keep track of Rand and his sly little manueverings!
Moreover, Senator Cruz introduced a TPA amendment to expressly prohibit any trade deal from attempting to alter our immigration laws.
Two Republican Senators (Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul) blocked the Senate’s consideration of that amendment, but the House of Representatives has agreed to include that language in the final text of the trade legislation. Thus, assuming the House honors that public commitment, federal law will explicitly prohibit any trade deal from impacting immigration.
And, regardless, no trade agreement can change U.S. law; only Congress can change U.S. law.
Here is Senator Jeff Sessions writing how trade promotion authority does give Obama much more power:
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/20233
Senator Jeff Sessions:
“The request for fast-track also comes at a time when the Administration has established a recurring pattern of sidestepping the law, the Congress, and the Constitution in order to repeal sovereign protections for U.S. workers in deference to favored financial and political allies.
With that in mind, here are the top five concerns about the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) that must be fully understood and addressed before passage:
1. Consolidation Of Power In The Executive Branch. TPA eliminates Congress’ ability to amend or debate trade implementing legislation and guarantees an up-or-down vote on a far-reaching international agreement before that agreement has received any public review. Not only will Congress have given up the 67-vote threshold for a treaty and the 60-vote threshold for important legislation, but will have even given up the opportunity for amendment and the committee review process that both ensure member participation. Crucially, this applies not only to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) but all international trade agreements during the life of the TPA. There is no real check on the expiration of fast-track authority: if Congress does not affirmatively refuse to reauthorize TPA at the end of the defined authorization (2018), the authority is automatically renewed for an additional three years so long as the President requests the extension. And if a trade deal (not just TPP but any trade deal) is submitted to Congress that members believe does not fulfill, or that directly violates, the TPA recommendations—or any laws of the United States—it is exceptionally difficult for lawmakers to seek legislative redress or remove it from the fast track, as the exit ramp is under the exclusive control of the revenue and Rules committees.
Moreover, while the President is required to submit a report to Congress on the terms of a trade agreement at least 60 days before submitting implementing legislation, the President can classify or otherwise redact information from this report, limiting its value to Congress.
Hidden TPP Dictatorship – Obama Can Rewrite US Laws And Congress Can’t Stop Him
http://rickwells.us/hidden-tpp-dictatorship-obama-can-rewrite-us-laws-and-congress-cant-stop-him/
Understand Fast Track - TPA/TPP/TAA - quickly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=52&v=eU7HX4FGpro
I trust Jeff Sessions who went down to the secret dungeon to read this monstrosity more than once and was able to truly understand and decipher it. Sessions is not running for president and not at the mercy of big donors to do bidding for.
I had Cruz pegged when he went down to the border with Glenn Beck to hand out teddy bears and soccer balls to the illegals last summer.
Cruz has to keep his donors happy with importing cheap labor.
The truth hurts, but it is what it is.
Why would Congress need to amend an agreement that they helped negotiate? They would have the entire negotiating time for input into the agreement under TPA. Any part of the trade agreement that does not conform to the TPA requirements makes the entire agreement Null and Void.
Ted Cruz has one of the most brilliant legal minds on the planet today. He has argued and won Supreme Court Cases defending our nations sovereignty. Jeff Sessions is one of 2 people in the last 48 years whose appointment to the District Court was not confirmed. I will trust Cruz’s expertise on this.
Have you ever stopped to wonder why it is the Democrats who are aligned against this? Since when have they ever been on the right side of an issue? If you find yourself agreeing with the likes of Nancy Pelosi and opposing the like of Ted Cruz, it is time to restudy the issue.
You’ve got the wrong Guy. Cruz doesn’t run and hide from anything.
TPA = TPP. By supporting TPA you make it very difficult to block TPP. Cruz wants it both ways. He can vote against the eventual TPP, all the while knowing he could have worked to defeat it by voting against TPA. He’s been bought by the Chamber of Commerce.
He meant himself. :)
Cruz is one of 12 declared candidates seeking the GOP nomination.
****************
Don’t slight the numerous others that have declared. Granted their chance is
slim and none and slim has left the building. But it will be interesting for the
first couple of months leading up to Mar. 1, where the weeding will become evident.
jmo.
http://www.fec.gov/press/resources/2016presidential_form2dt.shtml
Look at post #28.
Why change what the Constitution put in place to check Obama? What is your rush to empower Obama?
Not only did the ruin everything with the 17th amendment now they want to give even more power to the dictator Obama to make it a full dictatorship. this TPA will turn the USA into an Obama dictatorship
We the people and States need to see what ‘s in the final agreement and THEN debate can begin between the people ,Congress and States as all will be affected. we don't need any fast track power for Obama . what's the rush? you are working for your own destruction
He Must have! :) You’re a card and I love it!
Talking points. Nonsense. TPA gives the Marxist in the White House even more power.
And see below again.
Does Senator Ted Cruz support TPA?
Yes. Senator Cruz voted in favor of TPA earlier this year because it breaks the logjam that is preventing the U.S. from entering into trade deals that are good for American workers, American businesses, and our economy. Ronald Reagan emphatically supported free trade, and Senator Cruz does as well. He ran for Senate promising to support free trade, and he is honoring that commitment to the voters.
Free trade helps American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers; indeed, one in five American jobs depends on trade, in Texas alone 3 million jobs depend on trade. When we open up foreign markets, we create American jobs.
TPA also strengthens Congress’ hand in trade negotiations, and provides transparency by making the agreement (including TPP) public for at least 60 days before the Congress can act on any final agreement. Without TPA, there is no such transparency, and the Congress’ role in trade agreements is weaker.
By tailoring his disinformation to appeal to conservatives, the career Democrat operative is attempting to make the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) toxic to Republicans.
Lachlan Markay of the Washington Free Beacon looked into the group behind the anti- TPP website, ObamaTrade.com, and found it is funded by Curtis Ellis, the progressive three-time Dem candidate for Congress.
Curtis Ellis leads a group called the American Jobs Alliance that vehemently opposes the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and “fast-track” authority that would expedite its congressional consideration. Ellis calls the latter “ObamaTrade.”
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