Harry Reid Plans To Block Trade Deal Until The Senate Deals With Surveillance Reform,Highway Funding

[geek tragedy]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is putting the brakes on a Senate effort to push through a controversial trade deal, saying that Democrats will block the measure until the Senate deals first with a stalled infrastructure bill and a package of reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA.

"We have two very complicated issues that I think should have strong consideration before we even deal with trade," Reid said in an interview with The Huffington Post, referencing the two measures that are set to expire unless the Senate takes action.

Reid said he has spoken with his leadership team and is confident Democratic senators will stick together to demand the two bills be dealt with before moving to approval for trade promotion authority or the Trans-Pacific Partnership. "I'm not willing to lay over and play dead on trade until we have some commitment from them on surface transportation," he said.

The same goes for FISA, he said, arguing the Senate should adopt a package of reforms in the House. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has pushed instead for a five-year extension of the current surveillance policy, without any reforms. "I'm not willing to simply let anyone move to FISA without a fight unless I have some idea of what they're going to do with it," Reid said.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/04/harry-reid-tpp_n_7208076.html

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I have to admit, this hostage-taking stuff is kinda neat, when the hostage isn't worth saving.

[djean111]

1. And I smell the stink of a compromise, because Obama and the GOP want the TPP so very very much.

[geek tragedy]

2. worst case scenario is that holdout opposition to TPP nets infrastructure spending

and FISA reform.

[djean111]

4. Are you saying that we would trade the TPP for infrastructure spending and FISA reform?

Because I do not believe for one second that the NSA is really truly going to stop doing anything that they want to do, and I also doubt that real infrastructure spending will actually happen. And if it does, the money will come out of "entitlement" programs, and Obama has also proposed privatizing infrastructure to an extent. Sorry to be so cynical, but then - I can read and remember.

[geek tragedy]

5. No, hence the "worst case scenario"

On the TPP, I find myself unable to form an opinion for or against due to the secrecy involved. But I do oppose buying a pig in a poke.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

10. This pretty much says it all:

"I'm not willing to lay over and play dead on trade until we have some commitment from them on surface transportation," he said.

In other words, he'll be willing to lay over and play dead on trade as soon as he gets a commitment on surface transportation.
We know, Harry. Give 'em, er, heck, Harry.

[on point]

3. But not until it is public and the gets to weigh in with requirements

[WillyT]

6. It's A Start... Much More Needs To Be Clarified...

& Rec !!!

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. He found a spine?

That accident knocked some resolve into him?

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

11. Unfortunately, no.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1085284

[Beauregard]

12. It was his very spinelessness that got him his leadership position.

Old Harry. Ironic, isn't it?

[Dawson Leery]

8. This is the good kind of bi-partisanship.

Mitch did this to us when he was in the minority too.
Harry is paying the favor back in the most bi-partisan way!

[redruddyred]

9. +1

[n2doc]

13. Doesn't sound like he is going to try very hard

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/05/us-usa-trade-wyden-idUSKBN0NQ1NE20150505



"Of course we've heard of an attempt to stand in the way of an effort to pass this bipartisan legislation," McConnell said of the trade bill on the Senate floor.

But he added, "I plan, with the support of members of both parties, to turn to the bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act once we finish the Iran bill."

Reid, speaking just after McConnell, did not say he would seek to delay the trade bill. But he said it was important to handle measures on highway funding and domestic surveillance before a Senate recess at the end of this month.