U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos expressed reservations about proposed fast-track trade legislation Wednesday, but she stopped short of saying that she would vote against it.
Bustos, an Illinois Democrat, told reporters after an economic development event in Moline that she's keeping an open mind about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But she said she has problems with the fast-track measure that's a precursor to the trade deal.
"I've got a little bit of a problem with that in that it would not allow for any amendments," she said. "We have been hit very, very hard in this part of the state of Illinois, and in the state of Illinois, because of what I would call bad trade deals."
She pointed to the struggles Galesburg, Ill., has had since Maytag closed its doors in 2004 and moved most of the operations there to Mexico.
The Senate last week approved the fast-track trade measure, which now goes to the House. Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., voted for the measure. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., voted against it.
People are also reading…
Trade advocates, including the Obama administration, have lobbied hard for the fast-track legislation, saying it's vital to getting agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a major trade deal with 11 Pacific Rim countries.
Businesses have lobbied for it. Two of the Quad-Cities' largest employers, Deere & Co. and Alcoa are part of the Business Roundtable, which has been pushing for the deal.
Organized labor has lobbied heavily against it.
Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, already has said he'll vote against fast-track, according to his office. But Bustos' office has mostly just said she's keeping an open mind.
The East Moline Democrat expanded on that Wednesday. She said that even though she has met with top administration officials on the deal, she still doesn't have enough evidence that it won't hurt workers.
"Right now, I don't have enough information that shows that workers who live in our region are not going to be hurt by this," she said. "That has not been proven to me."
Still, she said she had plenty more study to undertake.
Bustos did echo other lawmakers in complaining they haven't been made privy to the trade deal's details.
The administration says that lawmakers can see the texts. But members of Congress have complained about the restrictions on access, which include prohibitions on note taking and having staff present.
The Obama administration has said it has taken unprecedented steps to improve transparency, including stakeholder meetings and sessions with lawmakers.