posted on Jun, 18 2015 @ 09:45 PM
I've heard this described as NAFTA on steroids. How many jobs did THAT cost us?
I wrote my "congressman" yesterday...this is his reply
June 18, 2015
Dear Mr. ***********:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me to share your views on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). By
hearing your thoughts and concerns on the issues, I am better able to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives.
For over thirty years, Congress has granted Presidents the authority to promote American trade and to ensure America remains a leader in the global
economy. This compromise between the executive and legislative branches gives Congress the ability to put forth specific negotiation objectives that
will ensure American businesses are able to sell their products and services across the globe, and in return, legislation implementing a trade
agreement will be considered by Congress in an expeditious manner. Simply put, TPA will give U.S. negotiators the leverage they need to negotiate on
our behalf, while ensuring that Congress is able to express its goals for negotiations and must approve or deny any final agreement.
On June 12, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives began consideration of Trade Promotion Authority. During that time, I heard from many
constituents concerned that the authority is inappropriate because it gives the President and his administration too much power and limits Congress'
ability to amend a free trade agreement prior to approval. However, TPA will ensure this President, and future Presidents, will be on equal footing
with other heads of state at the negotiating table and, crucially, gives both chambers of Congress the capacity to withhold their final approval
should a trade agreement be reached that is not up to the standards set forth in the TPA. Overall, this agreement gives Congress an efficient and
effective means by which to hold negotiators accountable, and allows the strongest possible trade agreement to be negotiated on behalf of the American
people.
As your representative, I understand your concerns regarding Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I believe that decreasing
economic barriers to trade will increase our economic growth and create new opportunities and jobs here in the U.S. While I understand many
individuals have concerns regarding the content of the TPP and all the various areas of trade it addresses, constraining the President's ability to
negotiate will not ensure a better TPP. Rather, it will only ensure that America -- the most historically innovative, productive, and largest economic
player in the world -- will be sidelined as other countries, like China, create the trade rules for the 21st Century. For that reason, I voted in
favor of Trade Promotion Authority when it was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 18, 2015.
Please be assured, I will continue to closely monitor the negotiations between the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim nations included in the Trans-Pacific
Partnership, and will stay engaged to ensure the TPP addresses all the important issues impacting trade between countries.
Again, thank you for contacting me. It is an honor to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please do not hesitate to contact me if
my office can be of assistance to you on any issue of importance.
Sincerely,
Adam Kinzinger
Member of Congress
Pretty Boiler plate response I think.