Trade bill survives scare

[KoKo]

Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/244745-trade-v

June 11, 2015, 04:55 pm
Trade bill survives scare

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/244745-trade-vote-survives-scare-in-rule-vote

President Obama's trade agenda survived a bad scare in the House on Thursday when the GOP rule governing debate for the package narrowly survived a 217-212 vote.

Thirty-four Republicans voted against the rule, while eight Democrats backed it.
A handful of pro-trade Democrats withheld their votes, watching the tally closely from the floor. Then, when it was apparent Republicans would not be able to pass the typically partisan measure on its own, they threw their votes in favor all at once.

The tight vote foreshadows the challenge GOP leaders will face Friday, when the House votes on two critical pieces of Obama’s trade agenda: fast-track authority and a separate bill offering help to workers displaced by trade.

GOP opposition to the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, as well as to fast-track, led Republicans to oppose their party’s rule.

Votes on House rules are tests of party discipline. Democrats traditionally vote against rules brought up by the House GOP.

House Republicans could only lose 26 of their own for the rule to pass without help from Democrats. Had the rule failed, the House would not have been able to debate and vote on the trade bills.

The eight Democrats who saved the trade package were Reps. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Gerry Connolly (Va.), Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), John Delaney (Md.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas), Ron Kind (Wis.) and Rick Larsen (Wash.).

This story was updated at 5:27 p.m.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/244745-trade-vote-survives-scare-in-rule-vote

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This was the "Rule Governing Debate" which was a first step for two votes on Friday for the Trade Adjustment Program & the Trade Authorization Package.

[djean111]

1. And we are still expected to just always vote for the "D".

[davekriss]

3. Yes we all should ALWAYS vote D

The place for Democrats to contend the candidates is in primaries. Once the question of whom we are going to run in face of the overt fascism of Republican candidates, there is only one choice. Press D for Democrat.

(I prefer the near-fascism of the Democrats over the wholly-fascist Republicans any day.)

[rpannier]

8. Considering how the parties push out almost everyone who wants to run against

an incumbent your get em in the primaries position has become nearly futile

Look at the hand wringing over DeFazio deciding he will probably run in the Oregon Senate primary next year

Near fascism is the same as saying you can get kicked once in the stomach or twice in the stomach/ Bottom line is, you still got kicked

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. Yes ...

unless you'd be happier with more scalias, or Thomases, or Ailitoses, or Roberts' on the SCOTUS and/republicans in the white-house.

[djean111]

12. I no longer believe automatically that the candidates that are presented to us by the DNC

are not fully capable of inflicting people like that on us. If Obama had listed his cabinet picks while he was campaigning, might have been a different story. And then when an AG is appointed who will prosecute pot, won't prosecute Wall Street, is good with civil forfeiture - sort of like the death from a thousand little cuts. To also expect enthusiasm for the current official D Brand is either cruel or demented.

[1StrongBlackMan]

16. Really? The same DNC that "inflicted people on us" like ...

Kagan and Sotomayor?

Do you really believe that ... Or, are you just getting swept up?

[djean111]

17. No, not swept up. Cynical. Feeling like a frog in a pot of warming water.

Watching Wall Street and corporations run everything. Watching BFF Jamie Dimon. And, evidently, BFF GOP. Watching that New Democratic Coalition. Watching Wasserman, here in Florida. Watching new AG who is against pot and against prosecuting Wall Street, but was okay with civil forfeiture. I will continue to watch, and to come up with my own conclusions.
Thanks for asking.

[1StrongBlackMan]

18. Okay. n/t

[sendero]

26. That's what we are..

... but most of the frogs are oblivious.

[Trajan]

2. Blumenauer ...

I'm appalled and saddened ...

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Lots of Oregon jobs depend on foreign trade

Shame on Congressman Blumenauer for looking out for the interests of his constituents.

[djean111]

19. And what of people who have seen it and do not believe this will be good for foreign trade,

and believe this thing is not really about foreign trade, but corporate dominance? Maybe being against it would be better for his constituents.

[cascadiance]

27. A lot of Dems I talked to in Multnomah County last night and the last few weeks don't feel this way!

I and many of them DO NOT feel their interests have been served. Unless his constituents, like too many Democrats these days, is who gives him the most money, not average voters!

I'm glad to see my congresswoman (Suzanne Bonamici) didn't vote in this instance. Perhaps she's having second thoughts from many of us in her district, including many PCPs telling her that we don't want this, no matter what Nike (and Obama with Nike a few weeks ago) might want!

Some PCPs I know have said they wouldn't vote for her if she votes for this, meaning they might abstain without a primary challenge, and of course not voting for a Republican. But if many voters choose not to vote for them, there's an increasing chance that perhaps these two reps might lose their seats next election.

TPP by the way is the real trade bill (in addition to other things not so much about trade but power), NOT the TPA.

The TPA is a way to ram the TPP down our throats and keep it in secrecy so that we can't see what our representatives are voting on, nor do they have the power to study, amend, or filibuster it either.

And of course I suppose some of the corporate supporters of the TPA here just can't wait for the possibility of us having a Republican congress and possibly a Republican president in 2016, so that THEY can have complete control on the remaining two years of the TPA to ram even WORSE corporate control bills like the TPP down our throats then. Pardon me while I go outside to PUKE!

[Trajan]

30. Ridiculous argument

As it stands, right now, nothing is stopping that trade ...

They can still trade without this monstrosity ...

I cannot believe liberals can be so easy to hoodwink ...

Shame ...

[davidpdx]

28. I am as well

I don't live in his district anymore, but did at one time (actually come to think of it I've lived in 4 of the 5 CDs in Oregon at some point in time). Right now I'm in Schrader's district and I was surprised (and pleased) he has voted against these bills.

[onecaliberal]

4. Stop voting for people because of the letter

Behind their name. Vote for the people who might give more than two shits about actual people instead of only $.

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. Yes. Do so with abandoned ...

in the primaries. After that, YES vote for the man or woman with the "D" behind their name.

[onecaliberal]

10. Indeed. However, these fake Dems need to be primaried.

[1StrongBlackMan]

14. Please stop with the "fake Dems" langauge ...

You (and a bunch of others) disagree with them on this issue (maybe, other issues, too); but, these Democrats are Democrats, none-the-less.

[djean111]

20. Yes, like Patrick Murphy became a "Dem" in 2011. Right. For me, fake Dem. Or New Dem.

Hard to tell them apart.

[1StrongBlackMan]

21. Thank the universe we have the DU Democratic gate-keepers ...

When Democrats (or, rather ... folks of Democratic message boards) use such language, we sound every bit as puristically looney as those on the right.

It is narcissistic and just plain silly.

[djean111]

22. Here's the thing. I am not trying to be a gate-keeper. I am trying to explain where

I am coming from. I am not telling any other DUer how to feel or how to think. Or vote.
Oh, and the gate is now a swinging door, as far as the DNC is concerned. IMO and all that.

[1StrongBlackMan]

23. Does it make you feel better? n/t

[djean111]

24. Does what make me feel better? Expressing my beliefs? Watching what is happening?

Condescension does not suit you, really.

[1StrongBlackMan]

31. I'm sorry you feel that I condscending ...

But if you are trying to explain where you are coming from; but not trying to tell any other DUers how to feel or how to think, or vote. If that is the case; then, it seems that you are venting/emoting online.

I was wondering if that made you feel better.

[Sunlei]

33. In your opinion, what exactly is "fake" about these elected Democrats?

[840high]

7. Thank you. I have reached

the point where I will no longer give a D an automatic vote.

[salib]

9. Do we have a list of these johnnie cum lately "Dems"?

Found it:
The eight Democrats who saved the trade package were Reps. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Gerry Connolly (Va.), Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), John Delaney (Md.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas), Ron Kind (Wis.) and Rick Larsen (Wash.).

[riversedge]

11. Not surprised to see 3rd-Way Ron Kinds name on the list.

[Sunlei]

13. I'm ready to buy an 8k new car import if ever the USA will allow real free trade someday

[Amishman]

25. environmental and safety regulations ensure that no car could ever be sold here new for $8k

its not a trade problem, its a unfortunate side effect of having high standards. Want high fuel efficiency, cleaner exhaust, air bags, and backup cameras? Those features are not cheap, and as more pending regulations are phased in, the cost of the bottom end of the new car market will rise.

[Sunlei]

29. I can use the car on my own land. I want to be able to buy the product in the USA.

[olddots]

32. as you get older you don't get more conservative as jerk offs say

You do want the lesser of evils though when you're too frail to fight.

I'm not going down conserving the 1% ers life style because they will destroy this planet faster thanit can be saved . FUCK THIS TRADE DEAL and the worms who want it !!!!!!!!!