Sen. Ron Wyden backs fast-tracking of trade deal as long as bill providing
aid to workers hurt by the deal moves "in parallel."
Krista Hughes
reports that senators believe they may be able to introduce a bipartisan fast-track trade bill later Thursday after having come to agreement at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on assistance for American workers who would be hurt by the deal. But six Democrats at the hearing were so irked by what they heard that they signed a statement of opposition:
Republican Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a Republican, said the legislation, key to closing a 12-nation Pacific trade pact, could be unveiled in the early afternoon.
“We’re working toward that goal,” he said at a committee hearing on trade, attended by top administration officials.
Hatch and the panel’s top Democrat, Ron Wyden, said they agreed that fast track legislation and a bill to extend support for workers hurt by trade would move in parallel.
The Oregon Democrat made clear that the only way this will be acceptable is if the aid bill is considered at the same time.
The Trans Pacific Partnership, as the deal being pushed by the White House is named, has generated considerable citizen opposition, including from unions, and garnered some powerful Senate foes as well, with their first target being any fast-tracking proposal. Fast-tracking grants the president authority to negotiate a trade deal. Once it's completed, Congress can only subject to a yes-or-no vote, with no amendments. In exchange, Congress gets a voice in setting negotiating parameters and a commitment on how much of the draft language of a trade treaty is made available.
In the case of the TPP, Wikileaks recently leaked the deal's language in its Investment Chapter. There's an analysis of what that chapter actually means here. It does not make for soothing reading.
At the finance committee hearing attended by several administration officials pushing for fast-track authority, six Democrats signed this statement objecting to the proceedings:
“With millions of jobs on the line, American workers and manufacturers deserve more than a hastily scheduled hearing without an underlying bill. Congress should undergo a thorough and deliberative committee process for debating trade agreements that account for 40 percent of our world’s GDP. And we should be debating a bill that has seen the light of day and contains strong provisions to protect American workers against illegal trade practices like currency manipulation.”
The six: Chuck Schumer of New York, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Ben Cardin of Maryland and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.