Free Trade? Yes. Anti-Constitution Anti-Transparency TPA/TPP? Definitely No

TPPFlying under the free trade flag many in DC are pushing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and fast-track Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). U.S. President Barack Obama Defends Trans-Pacific Partnership  Speaker John Boehner: More Trade = More American Jobs  (Senate Majority Leader Mitch) McConnell Urges Cooperation on Trade Legislation Is the TPP actually free trade?  Well we dont know - its shrouded in lock-down totalitarian secrecy. Congress Can - and Should - Declassify the TPP  One of the most controversial aspects of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the fact that the Obama administration has tried to impose a public blockade on the text of the draft agreement…. Not exactly the most transparent administration in history" we were promised. (T)he American people havent been allowed to see it before Congress votes on fast track. Members of Congress can read the draft agreement under heavy restrictions but they cant publicly discuss or consult on what they have read…. Why isnt every single member of Congress demanding these restrictions be lifted - and TPP be made fully public?  Why instead this? When Congress votes on whether to grant the president fast-track authority" to negotiate the TPP - which would bar Congress from making any changes to the secret pact after its negotiated - it will effectively be a vote to pre-approve the TPP itself…. Fast-track TPA is Congress yet again ceding its Constitutional power to the Executive Branch.  Of which weve already seen way too much.  The last six years - and the last century. Fast Track Trade Authority: Usurping the Constitution  Article I Section 8 of the Constitution states: The Congress shall have the power…to regulate commerce with foreign nations" among other duties and responsibilities.  Fast Track/Trade Promotion Authority is being sought by President Obama as a means of passing new trade agreements through Congress on an up or down vote without the knowledge of the voters.  Instead Congress should follow the Constitution and debate trade bills under regular order" not unique Fast Track procedures. Regular order?"  I seem to recall hearing that phrase before. Boehner Says House Will Follow Regular Order  McConnells Call For Regular Order May Not Mean What It Used To Apparently it doesnt. When Mitch McConnell became Senate majority leader he promised hed restore what he called regular order in that chamber. Not so much. McConnell on Senate Passage of Trade Promotion Authority  U.S. House Speaker Boehner Upbeat On Fast-Track Trade Prospects Before TPP goes any further the books should be opened - and We the People shown what it all actually is. TPA should simply go away.  Itd be nice if these people adhered to the Constitution at least every once and a while.
by is licensed under