DU was way ahead of the curve- and you ain't seen nothing yet.

[sabrina 1]

41. Any Trade Agreement entered into by the US with other countries, should be available to Congress

especially the Trade Committee, where it can be discussed, amendments added where necessary anything that might be harmful to the Working Class in this country, be debated in the open by the people's Representatives.

For several years now, Congress has been denied that Constitutional right. Even the Trade Committee has been refused access to what is in this massive and Secret Agreement.

Regardless of ANYTHING else, this is simply unacceptable. It means that some powerful people have dismissed the US Congress and somehow managed to over rule our Legislative Body by refusing to allow them to look at something they are concocting in secret.

Pressure from the people and from every kind of organization that has an interest in ensuring that Trade Deals BENEFIT the US, finally forced a small concession. The administration allowed members of Congress to take a tiny peek at some of what is in this secret agreement.

Sen. Sherrod Brown however, among others, have found their access to be very restricted and have complained for over a YEAR about issues regarding their lack of access AND NO RESPONSE to their requests.

Worse, now the President is asking that Congress, already in the dark about this bill, FAST TRACK it WITHOUT knowing what is in it.

Fast Tracking, put simply, means Congress gives up its Constitutional duty and power to oversee Legislation, and hands it blindly to the Executive Branch.

Meantime, there have been a few leaks of a few segments of the TPP. And what people suspected, the threat to our Environental Laws, to our Internet Freedom, to the very sovereignty of the US and the other nations involved, has now been confirmed.

Bottom line, as Sherrod Brown said this week, their refusal and outright denial of Congress' right to see this legislation, 'begs the question, What are you hiding'?

If they want this so badly, then all they have to do is to follow our laws. Let the people see what they are up to. Otherwise Congress must refuse to Fast Track the TPP blindly.

George Bush tried this in 2007 and Congress refused. Hopefully they do so again.