Congress Introduce Bi-Partisan Bill To Abdicate Its Own Role And Screw Over ...
#1
We knew this was happening sooner or later, but Senate Finance chair Max Baucus, along with ranking member Orrin Hatch have introduced the "fast track authority" bill in the Senate. Over in the House, the same basic bill has been introduced by Rep. Dave Camp. There had been rumors that the introduction of the bill would be delayed because not a single House Democrat would co-sponsor the bill, but apparently the existing bill supporters decided not to wait. Fast track authority, or "trade promotion authority" is a very dangerous concept. It basically is Congress completely abdicating its Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 8, Clause 3, which grants Congress the sole power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations."

Instead, what fast track authority does, is it involves Congress saying "that's okay, you guys in the administration can handle that." Basically, it's Congress flat out telling the White House and the USTR that it and not the Congress, can come up with trade agreements with foreign powers, and Congress will tie its own hands in being able to challenge or review the various provisions. Instead, it will limit Congress entirely to an up or down vote on the entire trade agreement. And, in this case, the fast track authority will be used to approve the TPP (and, likely TAFTA/TTIP after that). These are trade agreements that, as we've already discussed, are designed to help certain legacy industries at the expense of innovation and the public. Specifically, this would grant the administration four years of "fast track authority" with an easy three year extension after that.

The most ridiculous part is that the sponsors of the bill that will give up Congress' own powers, are claiming that it does the xact opposite:

Quote: TPA-2014 also provides greater transparency and gives Congress greater oversight of the Administration’s trade negotiations.

Uh, no. It does the exact opposite. It takes away Congress' Constitutional powers to regulate commerce with other nations, providing less oversight for trade negotiations and guaranteeing even less transparency than the almost none that exists today. The sponsors of the bill are pretending that the details in the 107 page bill "instructs" the USTR how to properly negotiate things like the TPP, but it's basically just repeating the USTR's existing wishlist. Included are, of course, a section on the importance of "high standards of intellectual property protection" as well as support for dangerous corporate sovereignty tribunals, commonly referred to as "investor state dispute settlement" plans.

While this bill is moderately bipartisan in the sponsorship (with Senator Baucus selling out the majority of his party who is opposed to it), it's the Republicans who are the driving force behind this. And that makes no sense at all. This is the same Republican party who shut down the entire federal government to block the President's healthcare proposal, and has spent years attacking anything that even has the mild stench of the executive branch taking on a role that goes beyond what the Constitution allows. And yet here they are gleefully handing over the Constitutionally-given reins for regulating foreign commerce... to the President they hate? How does that make any sense at all?

Source
Reply
#2
got me i don't keep up with all this.... plus this all sounds like computer tech trying to use tech jargon with a fish to explain how a program works IMO

but what I'm basically understanding is the Government is fucking the US people over again.. (i hope i'm in the ball park at least)
Reply
#3
Congress is pushing legislation right now that would "Fast Track" the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- a secretive agreement negotiated behind closed doors by government bureaucrats and more than 600 corporate lobbyists. This threatens everything you care about: democracy, jobs, the environment, and the Internet. Please help stop TPP by calling or sending an email to congress.

http://cms.fightforthefuture.org/stopfasttrack-email/
http://www.stopfasttrack.com/
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  US grants immunity to Saudi's MBS over Khashoggi killing Resurgence 0 5,919 Nov 18, 2022, 14:33 pm
Last Post: Resurgence
  Africa slams West over asking the continent to pay $2.8 trillion for pollution Resurgence 0 5,596 Nov 16, 2022, 14:05 pm
Last Post: Resurgence
  US accuses Russia of violating UN charter while ignoring own wars Resurgence 0 5,373 Nov 11, 2022, 13:56 pm
Last Post: Resurgence
  Russia: New part for repair of Crimea Bridge on its way Resurgence 0 5,976 Nov 09, 2022, 14:40 pm
Last Post: Resurgence
  The three ‘norths’ combine over Great Britain for the first time in history Resurgence 0 4,829 Nov 09, 2022, 14:39 pm
Last Post: Resurgence



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)