That was quick: Senate reaches deal on trade vote after Democratic revolt against Obama

[cali]

One might also say, done with unusual and unseemly haste. Not unexpected though.

U.S. senators reached a deal on Wednesday to move forward this week with legislation key to the proposed 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact, a day after a Democratic rebellion dealt a blow to the White House's trade agenda.

A compromise between Republicans and Democrats would set up a vote on "fast-track" trade authority with a worker assistance provision, while two other trade bills, a customs bill including rules against currency manipulation and one extending African trade benefits, would be considered separately.

A procedural vote was set for Thursday on the fast-track authority, enabling a full debate next week on the legislation, which would be twinned with the worker assistance program.

"The plan ... will provide our Democratic colleagues with a way forward without killing the bill," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor, following 24 hours of furious negotiations over how to break the impasse.

<snip>
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/13/us-usa-trade-congress-idUSKBN0NY1TM20150513

By not including the the two other trade bills, they've pretty much assured passage of the TPA. Now the battle moves to the House where opposition is much tougher. Still, it's worth giving your Senators a call before the vote.

[marym625]

1. calling right fucking now!

Thanks for the info

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Are the costs of pig lipstick included in the bill?

[randome]

3. And don't they have 90 days to review before the final vote?

Seems like we'll know all the contents in that time.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. I think "fast track" means NO review. n/t

[TDale313]

7. I think they get to review it...

But no amendments or changes- just an up or down vote. So the only say the get is take it or leave it.

[randome]

11. And if someone thinks strongly about one important detail, he/she should vote 'No'.

It's understandable that people see 'fast' in the term 'fast-track' and immediately think 'speed'. But the only 'speedy' nature of it is, like you said, no pesky amendments, abortion riders, protest proposals regarding gay rights, etc.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Treat your body like a machine. Your mind like a castle.[/center][/font][hr]

[rhett o rick]

21. And no getting to cut out horrible sections. It's all or nothing. nm

[Hoyt]

26. The TPA includes requirements that allows Congress to rescind fast-track if not met.

It's really not an up or down vote, any longer.

[GoneFishin]

4. Another fucking cave in.

[former9thward]

6. A little too quick.

There may have been some planned theater here.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Yeah theater is how I see it but

its better than watching the sopranos.... Ok maybe not.

[hedda_foil]

43. Ah yes. Your classic potemkin kabuki ploy.

I really do not like being played.

[n2doc]

8. And people wonder why there is so much cynicism about our Government n/t

[Robbins]

10. all i care about now

Is which dems ins enate vote against it.they are the real dems In senate.The rest have sold out unions and working people and democracy to corporations.

[Autumn]

12. That sure was illuminating.

[cali]

16. but not a shock- except for the swiftness of it.

[Autumn]

17. After what Harry said after the vote yesterday I figured it would be fast.

[cali]

20. that it was. I want to hear what Sanders and Warren have to say

and sadly, I don't trust Leahy to vote no this time around. I'll have to call his office again and find out.

[Segami]

25. LOL!

Sure was!

[bvar22]

13. The Kabuki Theater isn't even interesting anymore.

It is so predictable that it has become expected, like a bad TV Soap Opera.

[rhett o rick]

23. From this thread it looks like some are still buying the sillyness that Democrats actually

spoke up to the President, stood up for the people. It was Kabuki Theater. The Oligarchs are laughing in their martinis tonight.

[tritsofme]

14. The end-zone dancing over the last 24 hours was very premature.

As you say, the real battle will be fought in the House.

[octoberlib]

15. The separate currency manipulation bill probably won't pass.

[cali]

18. no, it won't. I doubt the other will either.

yippy. they'll get to keep their child labor loophole.

[progressoid]

19. Aw fuck.

[JaneyVee]

22. Revolt against Obama? LOL.

[Number23]

31. This whole thing is both predictable and humorous. The "stinging rebuke" to Obama that lasted a

whopping 24 hours (was it even that long?) and now it's business as usual.

I can't make any sense out of this but one thing I know is that I am beyond tired of wishing that the screaming over this would stop and cooler and smarter heads would prevail.

[JEB]

24. If Democrats won't look after

the interests of American workers, who will? I guess fucking nobody. At least nobody with a scrap of power.

[Rex]

28. If the worst manifests itself to be true, then we will see a worker revolt in the future.

If nobody cares, then we are mandated to head down that very familiar road of history. IMO.

[JEB]

29. W told us one truth, "money trumps peace".

He forgot to mention it also trumps anything else in its way. Workers are being steam rolled.

[Rex]

27. SO then it wasn't really a revolt as much as a PR stunt?

Looking like it.

[still_one]

32. Sherrod Brow who made such passionate arguments, had no problem with the

compromise. I have no doubt that Sanders and Warren have a major problem with the fast track vote. In fact there is no way anyone should be for fast tracking

[Rex]

33. Yeah but like you already said, it very much LOOKS like a done deal.

All that is left, is for it to land on the POTUS's desk. Congress just gave it to him in a majority vote for the TPP. No questions asked and if so are not allowed to be asked in public.

[still_one]

42. unfortunately yes I think

[still_one]

30. Fast track authority requires a simple majority as I understand it. If that is

the case the TPP is a done deal

[woo me with science]

34. What a predictable, manipulative con game by corporate Democrats.

How familiar this slimy, dishonest MO is by now.

Note our corrupt corporate Dems took the time to *pretend* they opposed it first. To get the headlines saying that Democrats were standing up against this sack of predatory shit.

*Then* they reversed course, after the public accolades were heard by Americans.


Just like Obama's lying, highly publicized speech pretending that he would rein in military involvement...followed immediately by two new wars in Syria and Iraq, funding carpet-bombing of captive populations in Gaza, and a trillion-dollar escalation in nuclear weapons.

We are ruled by manipulative propagandists and craven corporate criminals who do not hesitate to lie to our faces, pretending to stand for one agenda while pursuing the opposite.

They constantly manipulate what Americans will see and remember, while selling us out to predators.


What a cesspool of deliberate corruption our government has become.

[KG]

35. so, dems return to the craven political cowards they've really been last 25 years

their wall street masters must 've really dropped the hammer...

[doc03]

36. Why the fuck do we even vote anymore? We have had a

Democrat in the Whitehouse for 6 years and nothing, zero has been done to correct the SS or Medicare mess. Multi employer
pension plans can now cut our benefits. The funding requirements on Defined Benefit Plans were changed. I just got a notice last week
that under the old rules my plan would be funded at 67.33% and the company would have to make a $31,381,280 contribution. But now under the new rules it is funded at 82.94% and the company gets by with $18,,497,787. The pension liabilities never went down they just changed it so it appears there is more money in it. The PBGC has billions more in liabilities than they can ever pay and absolutely nothing has been done about that. Now we get another job killer trade deal.

[Autumn]

38. Shut up and eat your peas

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/07/11/obama_on_deficit_talks_time_to_pull_off_the_band-aid_eat_our_peas.html

[doc03]

39. We have all of these problems and it will

probably be a Republican making the changes in 2017, heaven help us.

[MrMickeysMom]

37. Let's go! Let's really go…. spelunkers!

[First Speaker]

40. Thanks for the suggestion--I actually took it up...

...gave Senator Blumenthal's office a call about fifteen minutes ago. I have hopes for him on this...he's a damned good man, and the young lady I spoke with told me that the overwhelming percentage of calls and e-mails on this issue were anti-TPP...

[boston bean]

41. Suprised it happened so quick... Thought it would be at least next monday before

the cave in began.

[joshcryer]

44. That celebrating was pretty comical.

I stayed away from it because I knew this would happen.