TPP: Don Beyer (D-VA) Puts “Free Trade” Above National Sovereignty and Democracy

[marmar]

TPP: Don Beyer (D-VA) Puts “Free Trade” Above National Sovereignty and Democracy
Posted on June 6, 2015 by Joe Firestone


Recently, my wife, Bonnie, sent an e-mail to Don Beyer, our Democratic Representative in the Virginia 8th Congressional District to express her opinion opposing fast-track/TPP and to tell him that she wanted him to vote against it in Congress. In reply, she received a form e-mail which was non-responsive to hers, but also stated his support for all four trade bills and his talking points on the subject.

Congressman Beyer’s e-mail made her angry and she asked that since I’m the writer in the family, I write a reply from both of us for him. Since drafting this reply, I’ve learned that Don Beyer has announced his support for fast-track in a statement on his web site. Below is our reply to him, in talking point/response format, sometimes cast in the first person, for his consideration, and anyone else’s who is interested in “free trade” agreements.

Beyer supports the whole Administration trade package, including the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), (fast-track) the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Trans-atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA)

Thank you for being in touch regarding the upcoming package of four critical trade bills. This is one of the most important issues facing this Congress, and I have met with many constituents and interest groups about it.

In the coming weeks, I expect to vote in support of this trade package, requested by President Obama and passed through the Senate with significant bipartisan majorities, including both of Virginia’s Democratic Senators. These bills, including Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), will establish historic multilateral negotiations with our international trade partners while securing important worker protections for American jobs and trade support to developing economies, critical to global poverty alleviation efforts.

I’m sorry, Congressman, but since the negotiating texts of the projected treaties are “secret” relative to members of the public like ourselves, unless they’ve been leaked by some brave, public-spirited souls, and are even very difficult for Congresspeople to see, read, understand, and evaluate, my wife and I cannot simply accept on your say-so that these trade agreements, will protect American workers against job losses, resulting in a net of new jobs for Americans at higher pay after they are implemented. In our view we elected you to represent us, not to think for us.

Also, even though my wife and I care a great deal about developing economies and global poverty alleviation efforts, we are far more concerned about the issues of economic development, inequality and poverty alleviation right here at home. In addition, we’d like to remind you that you represent the people in your Congressional District and owe your first loyalty to them and to the national interests of the United States, rather than to the objectives of facilitating developing economies and global poverty alleviation. .....................(more)

http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2015/06/tpp-don-beyer-d-va-puts-free-trade-above-national-sovereignty-and-democracy.html

[Jefferson23]

1. Peachy. n/t

[elleng]

2. He sells cars, doesn't he?

[Puzzledtraveller]

3. Do we have any theories "beside being paid off" why our president

is pushing this thing so hard and resorting to arm twisting and enticing democrats with special deals?