With a Republican-controlled House and Senate, the Presidents draconian plan to pass the TPP and TAFTA through the fast-track is getting a big boost: Harry Reid can no longer block it. This is Very, VERY BAD news. We need to double down on opposing this thing, while we still can. From the article, with more details in the comments: Many Democrats oppose the TPP, citing concern with excessive secrecy, the potential for undermining regulations, and the theory that any gains from the deal would go to the corporate elite at the expense of the public. Among Republicans, there’s a split between their establishment and Tea Party grassroots wings. But pro-corporate politicians of both parties could constitute enough of a majority to push fast-track through, especially now that Reid cannot block it from a Senate vote. The biggest chance to stop the TPP and other deals comes from foot-dragging from the negotiating countries, some of whom oppose the deal’s restrictions on state-owned enterprises, patent protections and other issues. However, signatory nations have mostly blamed TPP’s impasses on the lack of fast-track authority for President Obama. If that goes through, other countries would feel better about returning to the bargaining table. While the TTIP deal with Europe looks dead with or without fast-track, Congress handing over authority to Obama could easily revive the TPP. Coincidentally, the president will meet with leaders of TPP negotiating partners at the APEC Summit in Beijing next week. The media generally depicts trade deals as a universal good, and in this case, a long-sought opportunity for bipartisan compromise, heralded as the new dawn for an era of good feeling, sweetness, and light. In reality, TPP represents a bid by the business community to cash in their election chits, to reap the fruits of their campaign contributions. Beltway insiders, eager to set up their next job or reward their next donor, like the idea of more trade deals. The public has little say in the matter. - See more at: thefiscaltimes/Columns/2014/11/07/GOP-Obama-Compromise-Would-Mean-Scary-Win-Big-Business#sthash.K8nceJ6Z.dpuf
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 23:22:06 +0000