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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYAY! We Win. Reid Deals Body Blow to Obama on Trade
WASHINGTONSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid broke publicly with the White House Wednesday on trade policy, instantly imperiling two major international trade deals and punching a hole in one piece of the economic agenda the president outlined in his State of the Union address a day earlier.
Mr. Reid told reporters he opposed legislation aimed at smoothing the passage of free-trade agreements, a vital component to negotiating any deal, and pointedly said supporters should back down.
"I'm against fast track," Mr. Reid (D., Nev.) said, using the shorthand term for legislation that prevents overseas trade agreements from being amended during the congressional approval process. "I think everyone would be well-advised just not to push this right now."
The move spells trouble for two sets of complicated talks, one with the European Union and the other with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Both deals likely would have required such a "fast track" approval to clear the Congress. The U.S.'s negotiating partners wouldn't likely commit to a final agreement that could be unpopular back home without assurances that it couldn't be modified by U.S. lawmakers.
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http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303743604579350963039911616?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303743604579350963039911616.html
ZM90
(706 posts)You're finished TPP!
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)you how good I feel, Cali. THANK YOU!
This makes me feel like you kids will have a chance to have dignity in your life. All I think about is you kids.
a kennedy
(29,672 posts)I'm against fast track too.
jsr
(7,712 posts)And don't change your mind.
pscot
(21,024 posts)Who wants to run on NAFTA redux?
DirkGently
(12,151 posts)Coyotl
(15,262 posts)Thank you corporations, now do away.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)Advancing TPP would have destroyed the Democratic Party. Harry is no fool.
Baitball Blogger
(46,733 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)arcane1
(38,613 posts)After all, he said "well-advised just not to push this right now", not "ever."
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)But I'm gonna KEEP ON sending post cards just as I have been.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)So this is fast track delayed, not fast track denied.
I never heard from Senator Susan Collins, but Senator Angus King replied to my email a couple weeks ago that he's against fast-tracking.
And even after we win the fight over fast tracking, we'll still have the nuclear war over TPP and its European counterpart.
King had concerns about its impact on one relatively small business in Maine. He failed to address my concerns about sovereignty versus the rule of corporations.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)So...if we lose Senate in 2014...we don't know what will happen...if we keep Senate in 2014...we still won't know. But, his warning with the caveat, does make one wonder if it's politics over principle...and the thing will rear it's ugly head at a later time.
Still...it's good news for now!
"I'm against fast track," Mr. Reid (D., Nev.) said, using the shorthand term for legislation that prevents overseas trade agreements from being amended during the congressional approval process. "I think everyone would be well-advised just not to push this right now."
lark
(23,105 posts)Then I re-read and my enthusiasm toned down, damn. At least it's a "no-go" for now. Hopefully it will die and wither on the vine.
cali
(114,904 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)clarice
(5,504 posts)GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)But I hope this time he stands strong.
truth2power
(8,219 posts)But, but... According to the usual suspects, Obama wasn't really talking about "fast-track" in his SOTU speech, because he didn't use those exact words.
I suppose you'll be getting an apology from those algo...er, posters. Yes?
jsr
(7,712 posts)jsr
(7,712 posts)Business groups and Republicans, however, were disappointed with the comments.
Awful timing, Bill Reinsch, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, said of Reids comments. What it means is the fast track bill is not on a fast track.
In a blog post Tuesday, John Murphy, vice president of international affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, wrote that Obama needs to call lawmakers as well as lobby them in person.
He needs to work the phone and spend time on Capitol Hill every week until its done. Its that important, Murphy wrote.
Marr
(20,317 posts)Don't they know the President is absolutely helpless on things like this? I was assured of that fact during the Single Payer debacle.
Thanks for the morning laugh! K&R
bobduca
(1,763 posts)and then a whole bunch of feigned helplessness.
QC
(26,371 posts)Skittles
(153,169 posts)seriously fucked up
QC
(26,371 posts)Never gets old, does it?
Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)so I'm a bit nervous.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/01/14/3532113/obama-to-congress-were-not-waiting.html#storylink=cpy
Zoonart
(11,869 posts)If you will, cast your memory back to those halcyon days when we first backed Barack Obama's candidacy for President. Again and again, he said to us, "YOU have to MAKE ME DO IT". (FDR's mantra)
When we apply the pressure to stop stupid and destructive initiatives we are MAKING HIM DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
Keep up the good work citizens.
riqster
(13,986 posts)Our responsibilities do not begin and end in the voting booth. We need to advocate for our causes on an ongoing basis.
dragonlady
(3,577 posts)I've sometimes wondered if President Obama only seems to support some programs and hopes that popular pressure will defeat them, thus giving citizens the experience of actually controlling their democracy, an experience that sadly was rare in the previous administration.
Zoonart
(11,869 posts)Could not agree more, Dragonlady. Cheers to you!
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Last edited Thu Jan 30, 2014, 03:38 PM - Edit history (1)
in what you say. But, I'm thankful for this small break in the push for "Fast Track" for TPP...but, it's not dead yet and we've gotta keep on truckin' so this isn't "out of sight...out of mind," in the next three years.
Those that desperately want it can always get it rammed through by tacking it on to some important legislation at any time in the coming years. And if we get a Republican Senate in 2014 all bets are off...although there are Dem Senators who will still be in favor so nothing is a sure thing with this if we just "Cheer" and forget about it. Penny Pritzger is still Secretary of Commerce and our President owes her. So...he's sort of trapped with that.
ReRe
(10,597 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)nenagh
(1,925 posts)and now standing firm against fast tracking...
Interesting the last sentence, cali... thanks again for posting this...
grantcart
(53,061 posts)WCLinolVir
(951 posts)livingwagenow
(373 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)And ALWAYS worth paying attention to.
cali
(114,904 posts)and shrewd ML.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)LIEberman, DINO Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Manchin--not to mention McConnell.
Not to mention the admin's less-than-hardball negotiating tactics.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)G_j
(40,367 posts)Liberalynn
(7,549 posts)Whoopdedoo
(60 posts)Has been hammering away every day about the disaster which is the TPP. Also on his radio show on a daily basis. I am sure he has inspired many to call into their reps to not go with the 'fast track' idea.
Thanks Harry.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)blu3hotsauc3
(1 post)Nice to see someone standing up for what truly helps the people, regardless of party lines.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)We need to deal with some big problems on the national scale before we hand our sovereignty and self-determination on economic issues over to some trade agreement's council on something-or-other. That is just one more factor to add to the problems with the worsening of our balance of trade since we entered into NAFTA and other trade agreements: displacement of peoples, especially indigenous peoples and environmental damage and low wages, and, and, and.
One major problem that we need to deal with internally is our disparity in wealth. With each trade agreement, that disparity grows. The answer is not in importing more and cheaper products so that those who have very little money can still have the illusion of having enough stuff even though the stuff falls apart as soon as they buy it. Being able to shop at the dollar stores is not equal to being able to get a good job and contribute to society while earning a good living for your family. We can import cheap goods, but rents and utilities and other costs go up all the time.
We have to do something about the disparity in wealth in our country. Obama suggested raising wages. That's great, but if an American paying $850 a month for rent has to compete with people overseas who can survive on $2 per hour paying almost no rent and living without running water or decent heat or education, we have just created a bigger problem than we already have. We cannot afford to maintain our American style of living for most of us while importing goods we buy at the dollar store. And the goods we buy at the dollar stores and Walmart-type stores are what are dragging our wages down and closing down our industry.
So, let's try to get a handle on the serious problems we are having and that we will bequeath to future generations -- and then talk about free trade.
The onus for persuading Americans to back additional trade bills is on those who want the bills. The negotiations have to be between Americans who lose out every time we enter into a new trade agreement and the corporations and 1%ers who stand to gain from the trade agreements. I don't think that those Americans who lose out because of trade agreements were represented at all in the TPP negotiations. That is wrong.
When Obama and other presidents appoint commissions on issues or problems, they always appoint business representatives and scholars, maybe a trade union representative but they never appoint a person who is earning minimum wage in spite of having a college degree. They never appoint single moms or the guy who drives a truck. Yet it is these people who aren't apparently important enough to get to sit on a commission or at least have someone with their interests on a commission whose voices are ignored, whose needs are ignored, whose interests are relegated to no man's land. That is the problem with commissions and trade talks and all those serious folks we see on TV.
No to the TPP. And let's get our country into shape before we go trading away our ability to govwern ourselves with our neighbors.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)nail on head
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Response to Armstead (Reply #43)
JDPriestly This message was self-deleted by its author.
nil desperandum
(654 posts)Great points, the loss of manufacturing for the middle class has been a killer in wealth creation at the middle and lower middle income brackets. In addition to creating a disparity of increasing proportion between the wealthy and the rest of the nation it reduces national security.
The more dependent we are on 3rd world nations or despotic, totalitarian regimes for our basic resources the more embroiled we become in their politics and the politics of those regions. That is a national security nightmare, to have your basic communication and transportation manufacturing dependent on nations where workers don't always have proper sanitation or housing. Those areas are ripe for internal struggles and external pressures.
I am not always a fan of contrasting how things are done elsewhere(as in Europe) as a means to re-imagining how we need to adjust in the US, but it is never a bad idea to look at what is being done successfully or at least what is being that might have a long term positive elsewhere. Germany has done a decent job of maintaining a strong manufacturing base, there are some lessons there that might prove helpful here. As you point out there are not many involved in the trade process in the states whose interests lie with increased domestic manufacturing of core goods. That means the policy is being directed or designed by people who stand to profit by moving jobs away from the US.
Not hard to see why we have some work ahead of us to resolve this.
Thank you for making some great points and making me think a little today.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)SamKnause
(13,107 posts)I am against fast tracking the TPP.
The TPP is bad economic policy for the US.
The TPP is bad for the environment.
The TPP is bad for countries we trade with.
Just say no to the TPP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bettie
(16,110 posts)With the Republicans in the Senate too.
This is a great thing though. TPP is awful.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)....I have some difficulty trusting Harry Reid.
druidity33
(6,446 posts)when he was young, but i'm guessing he was good at "dodging and weaving".
bvar22
(39,909 posts)... would be my guess too.
Martin Eden
(12,870 posts)And that's an encouraging sign.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)This isn't going away unfortunately.
gordianot
(15,238 posts)fadedrose
(10,044 posts)Like protection of copyrights, etc., AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, taxing companies who are building plants overseas and giving American companies tax benefits like they never had before. We could then afford to sell our products cheaper if the manufactures could make them cheaper, and health care and environment issues could be afforded with the tax enhancements.
These appeal to me strongly, although I don't like the idea of Fast-Track nohow. Seems duplicitous or something. I sent emails asking the President to stop the TPP, but also approved of some of his plans...
One lady running for president may not care for Reid's mood....
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)congratulations for your input and educating us....
cali
(114,904 posts)markpkessinger
(8,401 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Phew, thanks Senator Reid!!
I hope TPP stays derailed.
frwrfpos
(517 posts)hopefully this issue gets much more exposure
Phlem
(6,323 posts)-p
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)Obama, just like Clinton before him, needs to act like democrats, not republicans.
It has been so disingenuous for Obama to be spouting off about income inequality while trying to ram this corporate coup down our throats. He talks a good game but too often acts as Mr. Republican Lite - and not all that lite with things like the TPP.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)Lol, jus trying to get it in before te others seriously suggest it. Deep chess.
Union Scribe
(7,099 posts)to let him know he has our support in this. I can't even imagine the pressure he's going to be under, considering the amount of money/power the pushers of the TPP wield.
democrank
(11,096 posts)Hope Reid doesn`t bend under the pressure.
mstinamotorcity2
(1,451 posts)in its tracks.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)But please don't think Obama wasn't already aware of exactly where Reid stands on this issue. There is more to this than meets the eye. In no way did Reid just come out and surprise the administration. I smell politics.
Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)but please don't think for a nanosecond that he didn't want this piece of crap. there's a shitload of evidence that he most certainly did.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)How bad I am not sure. But want it he did. I also don't have the first clue how all of this is going to play out. I do feel very confident that Obama knew exactly where Reid stood before he gave the SOTU. Pretty confident he also knew Reid would have to say something publicly about it. The administration may be having second thoughts and Reid could be their way out. Reid and Obama might be trying to ensure republican backing by initially playing Reid as the opposition. Obama might want it more than anything and Reid just doesn't like the idea of fast tracking(Face Value).
There are many possibilities. Just saying that Obama was definitely aware of Reids stance before the SOTU.
fadedrose
(10,044 posts)I wonder if Reid was needed to keep Obama out of hot water because the party is so against it - most of us - and the hierarchy of the party is all for it. Harry came thru for the President. He always does.
Either way, the base is happy, if not the DLC people...
I bet they got a lot of complaints from this board, thanks to cali and a few others.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)How about we restore manufacturing in this country.
shawn703
(2,702 posts)"The U.S.'s negotiating partners wouldn't likely commit to a final agreement that could be unpopular back home without assurances that it couldn't be modified by U.S. lawmakers."
Not popular here, not popular with our negotiating partners, the people doing the negotiating obviously aren't interested in what's best for their people.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Generic Other
(28,979 posts)TPP. Just another poorly conceived idea meant to enrich only a few.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Sparky 1
(400 posts)The last thing we need is another NAFTA-CAFTA-SHAFTA trade policy. Thanks for posting this, Cali!