Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
GOP-Obama Compromise Would Mean a Scary Win for Big Business (TPP, TTIP)
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2014/11/07/GOP-Obama-Compromise-Would-Mean-Scary-Win-Big-BusinessI'd be surprised if a single voter cast their ballot on Tuesday so multinational corporations could exempt themselves from national laws. I dont remember one TV ad framing the election as a chance to raise prescription drug prices in poor countries, or to stop the government from buying American-made goods. Maybe I missed the cable news chatter about muting the legislative branchs power to define regulatory boundaries.
However, those could be the biggest results of this weeks GOP takeover of the Senate. Every election post-mortem looking for areas of potential cooperation between the Republican Congress and President Obama starts with free trade. Because the Washington elites hearts go a-flutter whenever they hear the term free trade, they see the deals as just the kind of bipartisan solution they think the country has yearned for. But the deals being readied by the Obama Administration actually dont have much to do with trade at all; theyre about corporate power.
...
In reality at least as far as we know from leaked texts TPP would limit government policies on everything from financial services to the environment to food safety. Initiatives like buy American laws, which mandate government purchases with domestic producers, would be tossed out under TPP, to name just one example.
..
Why does the Republican Senate takeover provide a path for these deals? Because in January, Harry Reid decided to deny President Obama the critical tool of fast-track trade authority. This allows the chief executive to put trade agreements through an expedited process, where Congress would be able only to vote up or down, with limited debate and no amendments. The purpose is to limit re-negotiation of trade deals after Congressional passage, but fast-track limits democratic accountability and transfers to the executive power granted to the legislative branch in the Constitution. Mitch McConnell, the likely new Senate Majority Leader, has suggested support for fast-track, a priority of business lobbying groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
However, those could be the biggest results of this weeks GOP takeover of the Senate. Every election post-mortem looking for areas of potential cooperation between the Republican Congress and President Obama starts with free trade. Because the Washington elites hearts go a-flutter whenever they hear the term free trade, they see the deals as just the kind of bipartisan solution they think the country has yearned for. But the deals being readied by the Obama Administration actually dont have much to do with trade at all; theyre about corporate power.
...
In reality at least as far as we know from leaked texts TPP would limit government policies on everything from financial services to the environment to food safety. Initiatives like buy American laws, which mandate government purchases with domestic producers, would be tossed out under TPP, to name just one example.
..
Why does the Republican Senate takeover provide a path for these deals? Because in January, Harry Reid decided to deny President Obama the critical tool of fast-track trade authority. This allows the chief executive to put trade agreements through an expedited process, where Congress would be able only to vote up or down, with limited debate and no amendments. The purpose is to limit re-negotiation of trade deals after Congressional passage, but fast-track limits democratic accountability and transfers to the executive power granted to the legislative branch in the Constitution. Mitch McConnell, the likely new Senate Majority Leader, has suggested support for fast-track, a priority of business lobbying groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 1021 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (3)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
GOP-Obama Compromise Would Mean a Scary Win for Big Business (TPP, TTIP) (Original Post)
antigop
Nov 2014
OP
marble falls
(57,157 posts)1. Good un'.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)2. The only people who ever compromise are the DEMS. Why is that???
:wolfinsheep'sclothing: