Sen. Ted Cruz Makes It Official

[n david]

Cruz has flipped against the TPA. Well, unless McConnell allows the Ex-IM Bank to expire and Congress passes his amendments to the TPA.

The bill is a bad bill. In one sentence, Cruz rails against the "corrupt Washington backroom deal-making" with TPA, yet at the end of the article he prints his own demands.

Mr. Cruz, if this bill "has become enmeshed in corrupt Washington backroom deal-making, along with serious concerns that it would open up the potential for sweeping changes in our laws that trade agreements typically do not include." And if "WikiLeaks subsequently revealed new troubling information regarding the Trade in Services Agreement, or TiSA, one of the trade deals being negotiated by Obama," then your vote should be "No." Period.

"There’s too much corporate welfare, too much cronyism and corrupt dealmaking, by the Washington cartel."

"I cannot vote for TPA unless McConnell and Boehner both commit publicly to allow the Ex-Im Bank to expire—and stay expired. And, Congress must also pass the Cruz-Sessions amendments to TPA to ensure that no trade agreement can try to back-door changes to our immigration laws. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to vote no."

He should have said, "I cannot vote for TPA because..."

The price of an awful trade bill? A statement, not even a guarantee, to allow the Ex-IM Bank to expire and passage of a personal amendment.

[n david]

RedState: "Ted Cruz is dangerously wrong about Trade Promotion Authority"

http://www.redstate.com/diary/freedo...authority-tpa/

[Pressing-On]

Ted Cruz REVERSES on Obamatrade over corrupt process, explains why here:

Exclusive — Ted Cruz: Obamatrade Enmeshed in Corrupt, Backroom Dealings

As a general matter, I agree (as did Ronald Reagan) that free trade is good for America; when we open up foreign markets, it helps American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers.

But TPA in this Congress has become enmeshed in corrupt Washington backroom deal-making, along with serious concerns that it would open up the potential for sweeping changes in our laws that trade agreements typically do not include.

Since the Senate first voted on TPA, there have been two material changes. (read more)

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...room-dealings/

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by n david

Cruz has flipped against the TPA. Well, unless McConnell allows the Ex-IM Bank to expire and Congress passes his amendments to the TPA.

The bill is a bad bill. In one sentence, Cruz rails against the "corrupt Washington backroom deal-making" with TPA, yet at the end of the article he prints his own demands.

Mr. Cruz, if this bill "has become enmeshed in corrupt Washington backroom deal-making, along with serious concerns that it would open up the potential for sweeping changes in our laws that trade agreements typically do not include." And if "WikiLeaks subsequently revealed new troubling information regarding the Trade in Services Agreement, or TiSA, one of the trade deals being negotiated by Obama," then your vote should be "No." Period.

"There’s too much corporate welfare, too much cronyism and corrupt dealmaking, by the Washington cartel."

"I cannot vote for TPA unless McConnell and Boehner both commit publicly to allow the Ex-Im Bank to expire—and stay expired. And, Congress must also pass the Cruz-Sessions amendments to TPA to ensure that no trade agreement can try to back-door changes to our immigration laws. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to vote no."

He should have said, "I cannot vote for TPA because..."

The price of an awful trade bill? A statement, not even a guarantee, to allow the Ex-IM Bank to expire and passage of a personal amendment.

He never said that he was going to vote for the TPA bill. He only made the stand that he agrees with free trade.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

He never said that he was going to vote for the TPA bill. He only made the stand that he agrees with free trade.

"I cannot vote for TPA unless McConnell and Boehner both commit publicly to allow the Ex-Im Bank to expire—and stay expired. And, Congress must also pass the Cruz-Sessions amendments to TPA to ensure that no trade agreement can try to back-door changes to our immigration laws. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to vote no."

Sounds like he wanted to vote for it to me. He even co-wrote an op-ed in favor of it. His co-writer, Paul Ryan, even took a page from Pelosi by telling people they'll find out what's in the bill after it's passed.

TPA is a bad bill, he knows it, yet he's trying to leverage his vote to obtain a non-binding public statement and get his amendment passed.

Politics is politics. I'm thoroughly disgusted with the Republican Party right now, especially with Congressman Orange (Boehner) who's punishing anyone who votes against this bad bill.

Three Republican Presidential candidates have said they would vote for it: Lindsay, Rubio and Cruz. Lindsay and Rubio haven't even read the bill, and Cruz blasted the bill, but still would vote for it if his demands were met.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Ted Cruz REVERSES on Obamatrade over corrupt process, explains why here:

Exclusive — Ted Cruz: Obamatrade Enmeshed in Corrupt, Backroom Dealings

As a general matter, I agree (as did Ronald Reagan) that free trade is good for America; when we open up foreign markets, it helps American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers.

But TPA in this Congress has become enmeshed in corrupt Washington backroom deal-making, along with serious concerns that it would open up the potential for sweeping changes in our laws that trade agreements typically do not include.

Since the Senate first voted on TPA, there have been two material changes. (read more)

http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...room-dealings/

And yet he stated he would still vote for it if his demands were met.

smh

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by n david

And yet he stated he would still vote for it if his demands were met.

smh

No one else is against Free Trade, David. Everyone has stated that fact, including Sen. Ted Cruz.

Aside from media grabbing headlines, it is not a "flip" when the bill changes:

"Since the Senate first voted on TPA, there have been two material changes."

[n david]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

No one else is against Free Trade, David. Everyone has stated that fact, including Sen. Ted Cruz.

Aside from media grabbing headlines, it is not a "flip" when the bill changes:

"Since the Senate first voted on TPA, there have been two material changes."

I'm not criticizing him for a flip or non-flip. A President or member of Congress should be free to change their mind on a bill whenever and for whatever reason.

What I'm criticizing is for him blasting the bill, but still saying he would vote for it (as bad as he said it is) if his demands for a non-binding public statement against Ex-Im was made and his amendments were passed.

If the bill is as bad as he says it is the vote should be no. Period. Not [paraphrase] "I'll have no choice but to vote against it if my demands aren't met."

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by n david

I'm not criticizing him for a flip or non-flip. A President or member of Congress should be free to change their mind on a bill whenever and for whatever reason.

What I'm criticizing is for him blasting the bill, but still saying he would vote for it (as bad as he said it is) if his demands for a non-binding public statement against Ex-Im was made and his amendments were passed.

If the bill is as bad as he says it is the vote should be no. Period. Not [paraphrase] "I'll have no choice but to vote against it if my demands aren't met."

Does Senator Ted Cruz support TPP?
Senator Cruz has not taken a position either in favor or against TPP. He will wait until the agreement is finalized and he has a chance to study it carefully to ensure that the agreement will open more markets to American-made products, create jobs, and grow our economy. Senator Cruz has dedicated his professional career to defending U.S. sovereignty and the U.S. Constitution. He will not support any trade agreement that would diminish or undermine either.

https://www.tedcruz.org/a-note-to-co...de-agreements/

Here are his exact words and not that of the media.

"TPP is one specific Trade Agreement that is currently being negotiated. TPP stands for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It's being negotiated with 11 other countries including, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand. China is not one of those 11 countries. Right now, there is no final language on TPP, because TPP is still being negotiated. The different countries are going back and forth. The Administration is going back and forth.

What the Senate has voted on is TPA, the "process" for Free Trade agreement, not the TPP. What I voted on is TPA, the "process" that allows for free trade agreements to be negotiated, not the specific agreement, TPP.

I haven't decided, I haven't taken a position, one way or the other on TPP, because, for any trade agreement, I want to see what the final agreement is that is negotiated to access whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. So, I have not taken a position publicly or privately on TPP, and I don't intend to until there is an actual agreement to review."

Sen. Ted Cruz Discusses TPA & TPP on the Kuhner Report

[n david]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Does Senator Ted Cruz support TPP?
Senator Cruz has not taken a position either in favor or against TPP. He will wait until the agreement is finalized and he has a chance to study it carefully to ensure that the agreement will open more markets to American-made products, create jobs, and grow our economy. Senator Cruz has dedicated his professional career to defending U.S. sovereignty and the U.S. Constitution. He will not support any trade agreement that would diminish or undermine either.

https://www.tedcruz.org/a-note-to-co...de-agreements/

Here are his exact words and not that of the media.


Sen. Ted Cruz Discusses TPA & TPP on the Kuhner Report

Slight problem, PO.... This is about the TPA, not TPP. All these acronyms are confusing, but today's cloture vote (which Cruz put out a statement against and then voted against) was for the TPA, not TPP. Yes, he's said he's unsure about the TPP, but he was all for the TPA seven business days ago.

6/12/15
Does Senator Ted Cruz support TPA?
Yes. Senator Cruz voted in favor of TPA earlier this year because it breaks the logjam that is preventing the U.S. from entering into trade deals that are good for American workers, American businesses, and our economy. Ronald Reagan emphatically supported free trade, and Senator Cruz does as well. He ran for Senate promising to support free trade, and he is honoring that commitment to the voters.

Two things allegedly were changed within the past seven business days and he was "given no choice but to vote against it," (his words) since McConnell didn't meet his demands.