Anti-TPP Amendment Fails at Heated Dem Platform Meeting

[portlander23]

7. Lame duck is to our disadvantage

The TPP “Lame Duck” Push Insults Democracy
Dave Johnson
Common Dreams

Here is why the push is on. The so-called “lame duck” session of Congress is particularly unaccountable. Those who might have been tossed in the November elections are still able to vote. Newly elected and reelected legislators are not yet sworn in, so they can’t vote. And reelected legislators have the opportunity to pay back the big donors who funded their campaigns, knowing voters have two long years to forget what they did.

For example, Rep. Randy Forbes, a Republican representing Virginia’s 4th congressional district who is a proponent of TPP, lost his primary to Scott Taylor, a TPP opponent who called the deal “Obamatrade” in the Republican primary. The TPP, and Forbes’ earlier vote for “fast track” trade authority to grease the skids for TPP, was a major issue in the primary.

But even though Forbes was tossed out by his constituents because of his support for fast track and TPP, he will still be able to vote if TPP comes up in the lame duck session of Congress. Forbes will be looking for a job – probably from the very corporations that support TPP.

See if you can guess which way he will vote on TPP, after being tossed out for supporting “free trade.”

The lame duck session gives incentives to vote for unpopular legislation. This also hurts Mrs. Clinton because she does not support TPP but her brand is to build on top of Obama's foundation. This short circuits her sales pitch.

On the other hand, Trump's brand has been running against the GOP establishment, so having the backing of a party that disagrees with him plays into his narrative.

This really is the nexus of bad policy and bad politics for Democrats.

That said, progressives and working people will carry on the fight.