Obama’s free trade push runs into more trouble-Nancy Pelosi

[babylonsister]

Last edited Wed Feb 12, 2014, 07:04 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/02/12/obamas-free-trade-push-runs-into-more-trouble/


Obama’s free trade push runs into more trouble

By Greg Sargent
February 12 at 2:12 pm



Progressives and liberal lawmakers who are working hard to block the massive free trade deal being negotiated by the Obama administration have just gotten a big boost from someone they’d been aggressively courting: Nancy Pelosi.

In an event with labor officials on Capitol Hill today, Pelosi delivered her strongest statement yet of opposition to the bill that would grant the Fast Track Authority sought by the administration to negotiate a sweeping free trade deal with a dozen Pacific countries. The bill — co-sponsored by Dem Senator Max Baucus and GOP Rep. Dave Camp — is strongly opposed by labor, liberal groups and many Congressional Dems.

“No on Fast Track — Camp-Baucus — out of the question,” Pelosi said, according to a transcript of her remarks forwarded to me by her office. She also told assembled steelworkers: “We cannot support Camp-Baucus. We cannot support Camp-Baucus.”

This marks a significant hardening of Pelosi’s opposition to the Fast Track Authority bill. It doesn’t entirely rule out the possibility that she could support some version of Fast Track at some point, if its terms are overhauled to deal with her concerns about job loss from currency manipulation, and to create much more transparency around negotiations and give Dems much more input into them. But it creates a hurdle to the free trade measure, because it will be difficult to meet the conditions for supporting Fast Track that Pelosi is now laying down.

Indeed, at the labor event, Pelosi added: “We need transparency. We need a seat at the table to understand what they believe they are doing, so we can make it better. And if we don’t make it better, then we will not accept a path that is a job loser.”

Harry Reid has already declared his opposition to Fast Track, but opponents worry the GOP-controlled House could still pass the measure, since it has Republican support, putting pressure on the Senate to act. Pelosi had previously expressed serious concerns about the bill, but had stopped short of declaring outright opposition. Liberal groups such as Democracy for America have been heavily lobbying Pelosi to strengthen her position, to make it clearer the measure will get little to no Dem support in the House. So today’s declaration from Pelosi will be welcome.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Good for Pelosi!

I applaud her actions, and her reasons.

K&R

[cui bono]

2. Good. Will call her in support. And my rep as well.

Stand strong!