Sanders forces delay of trade bill consideration

[n2doc]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tried on Wednesday to block the Finance Committee from being able to consider a fast-track trade bill.

Sanders objected to a unanimous consent request from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to let the Finance Committee meet, forcing a delay in the consideration of the legislation.

The Vermont senator, who is mulling a 2016 White House bid, said there has not been "a lot of transparency" on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) legislation.

"Not only is there massive opposition to this TPP agreement, but there is a lot of concern that the American people have not been involved in the process, and there's not a lot of transparency," Sanders said.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/239688-sanders-tries-to-block-trade-bill

[mike_c]

1. Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

[ananda]

2. Can it also be filibustered?

Thank you, Senator Sanders!

[Faryn Balyncd]

10. Filibustering the Fast Track bill is the last opportunity to require a supermajority for TPP ...

If the Fast Track bill is enacted, not only will a filibuster of TPP (or any other "trade" agreement proposed in the next 6 years by whoever may be president) but a supermajority would be required to REMOVE any trade agreement from the Fast Track process.

[donnasgirl]

3. That'sa my Bernie

Still firing on all eight cylinders.

[MissDeeds]

4. Thank you, Bernie

Nice to know someone in Washington is looking out for us.

K&R

[polichick]

5. Sanders and Warren are double-teaming tptb.

[arcane1]

6. Actions beat words every time!

[project_bluebook]

7. One of a hand full of politicians that isn't paid off.

Bernie for president!

[Enthusiast]

41. One of that handful must become president.

And the rest must be thrown out on their ear. That would include all Republicans and most Democrats. A real employment opportunity.

[haikugal]

52. I like the sound of that! nt

[n2doc]

8. Sen. Sanders issued a statement on this:

WASHINGTON, April 22 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today opposed an effort to rush legislation through a Senate committee in order to hurry congressional approval of a controversial trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Sanders invoked a Senate rule to stop a morning meeting of the Finance Committee to mark up the so-called fast-track bill.

“This job-killing trade deal has been negotiated in secret. It was drafted with input by special interests and corporate lobbyists but not from the elected representatives of the American people. Instead of rubber stamping the agreement, Congress and the public deserve a fair chance to learn what’s in the proposal,” Sanders said.

Sanders also sent a letter today to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman outlining serious concerns about the proposed trade agreement.

Sanders worried that the agreement would force Americans to compete with workers in low-wage nations like Malaysia and Vietnam. “Americans should not be forced to compete against desperately poor workers like those in Vietnam who make as little as 56 cents an hour,” Sanders said.

He voiced concern that the document was negotiated largely in secret but with input from hundreds of special interests and corporations. “It is absurd that a trade agreement of such enormous consequence has had so little transparency.”

He expressed serious reservations that the agreement could give foreign corporations the right to challenge U.S. laws in international courts. “It is beyond belief that this agreement would let corporations sue over laws to protect public health and the environment.”

Sanders’ stand against the 12-nation Pacific Rim trade agreement builds on his opposition of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China and other trade deals that contributed to closing some 60,000 U.S. factories and the disappearance of more than 4.7 million American manufacturing jobs since 2001. Proponents claimed that NAFTA would create 200,000 American jobs, but the 1994 deal led to the loss of some 680,000 jobs. The China trade agreement six years later was touted as way to create hundreds of thousands of American jobs but in fact cost 2.7 million U.S. jobs.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-slow-down-fast-track

[Hiraeth]

12. Thank you, Senator Sanders!

[arcane1]

26. TPP supporters are going to have to choose between Bernie and Mitch

[Enthusiast]

54. Thank you, n2doc!

This is beautiful: “It is absurd that a trade agreement of such enormous consequence has had so little transparency.”

Why do these people see the American people as the enemy? WTF? I guess the powers behind this shit actually aren't Americans. They have agents of our destruction throughout government and private sector. They are working tirelessly toward our demise. Again, WTF?

They think, in the most rigidly ideological way, that the American people just don't work hard enough, or long enough. In their minds the poor have it too good and all regular working Americans are living too high on the hog.

[SoapBox]

9. Good job Bernie.

[EEO]

11. Good.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Go, Bernie!!

[myrna minx]

14. K&R n.t

[Bigmack]

15. Bernie for President! nt

[turbinetree]

16. Yeah

Hell-va a man to think about his county first and the workers of this country first and to simple ask why we the citizens that vote these people into office are not letting us be represented in a transparent fashion---good for him.



Because this next election folks is really, really important , look no further than what right wing Turtle lips McConnell did----absolutely nothing----let's just have vote, he basically said that he has been bought and sold by the oligarchy greed

[LongTomH]

17. Yes!!!!! Thank you, Bernie!

[democrank]

18. Go Bernie!

Show them what courage looks like.

[JDPriestly]

19. K&R. I am volunteering for Sanders' in his expected 2016 campaign.

Please volunteer also.

Full disclosure:

Here are Bernie Sanders' YouTube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorSanders

[rhett o rick]

31. I plan to volunteer also. If we lose in 2016 to Corp-America, it

will be extremely to come back.

[JDPriestly]

32. The TPP is a corporate coup. Good for Bernie, one of the few in Congress

whose independent spirit allows him to understand that fact.

[totodeinhere]

20. Bernie and Elizabeth. Our two heroes. n/t

[valerief]

21. WE LOVE BERNIE! nt

[truebrit71]

22. Way to go Bernie!

Please, please, PLEASE RUN!!!!

[SamKnause]

23. Go Bernie go !!!

You rock.

What a privilege it would be to vote for you.

You would make an outstanding president !!!!!!!!!

[AzDar]

24. We need to have this man's back... he ALWAYS has ours.

BERNIE!!!

[Demeter]

25. Bernie could be President just for this alone--he can ride it to the White House!

and even as an Independent, or Socialist.

Of course, Democrats would be honored if he ran under our banner, but the Party might balk...

[misterhighwasted]

27. I love Sen Sanders.

Wish we had 100 more Bernies in DC.

He is one of the very few great American Statesmen we have left.
Kudos to Sen Sanders

[immoderate]

28. Kick for Bernie.

--imm

[Rockyj]

29. LUV You Bernie!

A true patriot and statesman!

[Angry Dragon]

30. FAIR TRADE .......... not free trade ....nt

[raouldukelives]

43. It is our our only chance at a future worth living in. nt

[Angry Dragon]

48. Could you explain that

[lordsummerisle]

33. k&r

Thanks Bernie!

[wordpix]

34. thank you Bernie for holding the line

In my small town run by repukes, everything is opaque, state laws are ignored and people just shrug. I try to hold the line with a few cohorts but it's often in vain. This is more of the same from them on a higher level. Don't know what O has going on here with his hand-in-glovefest with the repugs. Glad there are a few senators willing to speak out.

[hopemountain]

35. the true champions for the people

bernie & elizabeth.

[blkmusclmachine]

36. Unfortunately, Obama is sold-out to the 1%, so we have to fight him too. He found his comfy shoes to

destroy the middle class in America. We must stop him, and it. And that's my opinion.

[Enthusiast]

40. My opinion too.

[Euphoria]

37. Thank you Bernie!

[CanonRay]

38. The man is a giant among fools and knaves

A true human being

[Enthusiast]

39. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

Fight this TPP!

[Overseas]

42. K&R. Glad to hear it.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

44. good!

Thank you Bernie!

[Freddie Stubbs]

45. Sanders threw his temper tantrum, but it passed the committee vote anyway:

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/239812-senate-panel-approves-trade-bill

[Beauregard]

47. "Temper tantrum" is just a bit tendentious, don't you think?

[Freddie Stubbs]

56. His move accomplished nothing, other than

forcing Senate staffers to work into the evening.

[Kingofalldems]

50. Sanders is a man of integrity.

Unlike the vile traitor, Joe Lieberman who posed as a Democrat for many years.

As I recall you were a big fan of Lieberman. True?

BTW, where in that article does it mention 'temper tantrum'?

[Freddie Stubbs]

57. Sanders was just showboating

He wants to raise his profile by pandering to the rabid anti-trade crowd.

[villager]

51. I'm a little more worried about the "temper tantrums" of our corporate owners

...and the marching orders issued to the political "leaders" they, in turn, own.

[blackspade]

46. thank you Bernie!

[appalachiablue]

49. The People's Senator. Thank you for all you do Bernie Sanders! Stop the TPP!!

[haikugal]

53. Way to go Senator!

Keep up the good work!

[Pooka Fey]

55. Thank you Senator Sanders!