Ted Cruz supports TPP

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by n david

Unions are also against it. I remember reading an article a few months ago which detailed why it was a bad bill. I'm trying to find it again.

I'd like to read it. They are probably coming from the perspective of "corporate-friendly". That would be Warren's beef - corporate greed (1%) at the expense of working people. That's the new word for "middle class".

[n david]

This isn't the website I remember, but it has a lot of the arguments against it.

Source Link

The website has a liberal/progressive slant, so it is what it is.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by n david

This isn't the website I remember, but it has a lot of the arguments against it.

Source Link

The website has a liberal/progressive slant, so it is what it is.

The article rightly comes from fear of what we can't see. Although, today Rand Paul is saying he reviewed the 800 pages and he doesn't see anything there that the public shouldn't be able to see. IOW, nothing is alarming in the bill.

I am with Donald Trump on this because I am for Free Trade - we need good negotiators and we need to have something that takes care of the currency manipulation.

Like I've already said, we have Americans that live and work all over the world, so global trade is not going to ever be off the table. Also, when you get on a jet and hit the ocean, you have become international, so it's ridiculous to think we are not going to have some global influence. We just need it in our favor.

[Pressing-On]

Senate nears deal on trade

The emerging deal would have senators vote on two controversial bills favored by Democrats before moving to a wide-open debate on granting Obama fast-track authority to negotiate future trade deals.

The Democratic proposal is to vote on a stand-alone customs and enforcement bill including currency manipulation language and a stand-alone package of trade preferences for sub-Saharan Africa, according to a Senate aide.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/2...-deal-on-trade

[Pressing-On]

Good read! Covers a lot. He mentions the TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance), which was part of NAFTA - welfare for the laid off. But, he goes on to say that it isn't necessary - "But given that Democrats aren't likely to deliver many votes anyway, it's not clear why the GOP should swallow TAA costs as part of any deal."

The Conservative Case For Passing Trade Promotion Authority

Some conservatives have argued that free trade agreements are a form of corporate welfare for big and rich business interests. Actually, reducing trade barriers is the opposite of corporate favoritism: It cuts down the special-interest protectionist measures put in place by politically powerful industry lobbyists. Free trade creates a level playing field.

Most importantly, free trade is one of the five pillars of growth — the other four being low tax rates, spending restraint, sound money and lighter regulation. If Republicans want to be the pro-growth party, they must be on the side of trade deals that enable America to compete rather than retreat.

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editor...n-congress.htm

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Senate debating two bills on trade enforcement and currency manipulation. Members were also scheduled to take a cloture vote on H.R. 1314, a trade promotion authority bill.

Debating now:

http://www.c-span.org/video/?325951-...gislation&live

[Pressing-On]

Sen. Cruz: Congress Must Prohibit Obama From Abusing TPA to Change Immigration Law
Cruz files amendment to Trade Promotion Authority legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today filed an amendment to the Trade Act of 2015 to lock in assurances that this legislation cannot be used to change federal immigration law.

"The Obama Administration has repeatedly assured Members of Congress that there is nothing in the Trade Act of 2015 that would allow the President to unilaterally make changes to federal immigration laws. I agree, and we should put it in writing and make it binding law," said Sen. Cruz. "I am a strong supporter of free trade, but I cannot support legislation that would allow the President to once again circumvent Congress to enact his own immigration laws. Since the Obama Administration has emphatically argued that TPA will not affect immigration, it should support this amendment, which makes that promise explicit."

http://www.cruz.senate.gov/files/doc...angesamend.pdf

BILL TEXT:

http://www.cruz.senate.gov/files/doc...angesamend.pdf



The amendment states that nothing in the Trade Act of 2015 or in any trade agreement subject to the Act "shall alter or affect any law, regulation, or policy relating to immigration."

The amendment also states that any fast-track procedures shall not apply to any implementing bill submitted with respect to a trade agreement "that includes any provision that alters or affects any law, regulation, or policy relating to immigration."

[Pressing-On]

Why Ted Cruz is Right on TPA

It has been said that politics makes strange bedfellows. Well, there is no finer example of that statement than the recent votes on the Trade Promotion Authority. Free trade has long been advanced by conservatives who understand the need to expand our markets beyond our borders. On the other side stands the democrats and the radical left who fear competition and doubt America’s exceptionalism. Yesterday, the Senate cleared the 60 vote hurdle to bring the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) up for a vote. I for one, welcome President Obama to the side of common sense solutions, to help solve the economic disaster that his domestic policies have created. I only wish that he would use that common sense more often.

If you have listened to Ted Cruz speak on the economy, you will hear him promote the idea of free trade. One of the many reasons I support Ted Cruz for President is his common sense solutions to solve America’s economic problems. America has experienced a trade deficit for as long as I can remember. A large part of that stems from poorly negotiated trade deals in the past, high tariffs being placed on American products by foreign governments, and currency manipulation. The TPA is a step in the right direction to resolve many of the trade imbalance issues and will provide a set of strict guidelines for negotiations.

What exactly is TPA or fast track? I am glad you’ve asked. Trade Promotion Authority, TPA, and Fast Track all refer to the same piece of legislation. First, it is important to note that TPA is not a trade agreement in and of itself, but rather Congress establishing a set of requirements that the President must follow in every trade deal he submits through the TPA “fast track” legislation. By Congress authorizing this legislation they are able to have a part in the terms of the negotiations that take place with foreign governments. In addition to controlling the outline of any trade deal, they are able to force the President to share with them the details of any trade deals as he is negotiating. There are many opportunities for Congress to read and be involved in these negotiations if they really had a desire. There is also a requirement for public summaries to be released throughout the process of the negotiations. Once the trade agreement is completed it must be made available to the public before Congress is able to vote on it.

Without the TPA the President is able to negotiate any trade deal without any input from Congress or the American people. Even more alarming the President has the authority to conduct these negotiations in secret and only make them public when he submits them to Congress for approval. Once in Congress the process of buying votes and adding poison pills to the legislation corrupts the entire process. If we know anything about Washington, it is that its corruption runs deeper than the oceans. For these reasons previous Congress, both democratic and republican, have authorized “fast track” legislation.

As with anything in politics there are groups who, in an effort to promote their ideology of isolationism, will put out misinformation in order to derail legislation that they oppose. As with anything you read or hear about legislation coming out of Washington, familiarize yourself with not only the facts of the legislation, but any potential bias or agenda the author may be hiding.

http://www.reclaimdc.com/2015/05/why...-right-on-tpa/

[Pressing-On]

He said has read it, and says it looks straight forward.

"Given the abuse of power by this administration, only encourages people to say, 'What horrible things must be in there, if they are hiding the text?' Now, let me give you two bits of good news. One, under Trade Promotion Authority, no agreement can be voted on, including TPP until the text has been public for 60 days. Which means everyone will get the opportunity to read, for two months, the text of TPP. If there is some provision buried in paragraph no. 5,032, that I missed on a quick read, in 60 days people will have time to study it, and assess, 'Is this beneficial or not'."

"But I think, and I publicly called, I think the Obama Administration needs to make TPP public right now."

[Pressing-On]

Ted Cruz talks about TPP and TPA on Hugh Hewitt today. Said he doesn't know if he will vote for it. Beginning at 10:00 marker.