Clinton Delegates Vote Against Clinton Stands on Trade [View all]

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Last edited Sat Jun 25, 2016, 12:58 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Bernie Sanders

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Friday that he was “disappointed and dismayed” that allies of Hillary Clinton beat back Democratic Party platform proposals on trade.

On the other hand, Sanders said he was pleased that the platform drafters adopted language calling for breaking up too-big-to-fail banks and enacting a modern-day Glass-Steagall Act. Sanders also said he appreciated a unanimous vote for a proposal to abolish the death penalty.

Sanders said it was “inexplicable” why Clinton allies on the panel at a meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, voted down proposals on trade that both Sanders and Clinton embraced as candidates. “It is hard for me to understand why Secretary Clinton’s delegates won’t stand behind Secretary Clinton’s positions in the party’s platform,” Sanders said.

The drafting committee rebuffed a proposal by Sanders allies to put the party on record saying Congress this year should not take up a trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Both Clinton and Sanders oppose bringing the measure before Congress this year for an up-or-down vote. Clinton allies nevertheless thwarted the platform proposal.

Delegates also debated a Sanders-backed proposal calling for a $15 an hour federal minimum wage. Clinton’s delegates and members appointed by the Democratic National Committee chair voted to strike down the proposed platform plank.

The drafting committee was considering amendments to a document that will go before the full Platform Committee when it meets next month in Orlando, Florida.

“If our pro-worker amendments do not carry in St. Louis we will reintroduce them before the full platform committee in Orlando, Florida. If we do not win in Orlando we can carry them to the floor of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Our job is to pass the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party.”

Sanders was in Syracuse, New York, on Friday at a campaign appearance featuring Eric Kingson, a candidate for Congress.

Read more: https://berniesanders.com/press-release/clinton-delegates-vote-clinton-stands-trade/