Lies USTR (The Administration) Is Spreading About Fast Track Authority To Push TPP Through Congress

[cali]

from the don't-buy-it

With the introduction of fast track authority (also known as "trade promotion authority&quot in Congress, by which Congress abdicates its constitutionally-granted sole power to regulate foreign commerce, the USTR (which gains that power) is out in force, spreading all sorts of lies about what this means. It's not exactly encouraging when the organization that has been hiding all the details of the TPP agreement for years is now trying to push it forward by directly lying to the American public. It's almost as if the USTR can't be honest or people might realize that it's spent the last few years pushing forward on an agreement designed to prop up old legacy businesses at the expense of the public and new innovators.


The USTR's statement on the fast track proposal is full of lies, half-truths and misleading statements. Let's look at a few

TPA does not provide new power to the Executive Branch.

Hell yes, it does. Trade Promotion Authority gives the power of regulating foreign commerce directly to the USTR, rather than Congress. It allows the USTR to negotiate a "final" agreement with other countries, which Congress cannot seek to change, amend or fix. Instead, Congress can only give a simple "yes or no" vote on what the USTR comes back with. Without TPA, the USTR actually needs to engage Congress, and win its support and approval on everything within the agreement. That gives Congress -- which is supposed to represent the public -- a chance to make sure that (as the USTR has shown a proclivity to do) the agreement is not filled with ridiculous "gifts" for cronies and friends at the expense of the public and disruptive innovation.

<snip>

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140109/18282625830/lies-ustr-is-spreading-about-fast-track-authority-to-push-tpp-through-congress.shtml

Pretty outrageous and despicable. The Administration will clearly do anything to pass this pile of shit.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. The Administration also kicks puppies for fun

fuckers.

[cali]

2. the administration and President Obama are pushing this "trade" deal

if you support it, care to explain why?

[SamKnause]

3. Hello cali

I am with you 100% !!!!

I do not know why any working U.S. citizen in their right mind would support this "trade" deal.

Thanks for all the links you post on this destructive deal.

Have a great day.

[SidDithers]

6. Obama personally kicks 'em for distance and accuracy...nt

Sid

[cali]

7. Using mindless mockery to try and deflect from the topic is

both obviously and intellectually bankrupt. And you're smart enough to know that.

[woo me with science]

4. K&R Important post.

Thank you for this OP.

[pa28]

5. The claim this bill ensures transparency is absurd on the face of it.

The bill does not guarantee members of the public will get to see TPP's contents before congress votes. Only members of Congress who request to see it will be able to do so.

That's not "transparency". The TPP is classified and looks like it will stay that way until after passage.

Now we have until 2015 from the looks of it until a vote is feasible. Our only hope of real transparency is a leak of the full text and our best hope of defeating it is wise use of that time to build opposition.