Thursday, June 18, 2015

TPA/TAA Vote: Intellectual Bankruptcy of Republican Leadership

By Douglas V. Gibbs

As TPP, TPA, and TAA has emerged (TPP is Trans Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement with other nations surrounding the Pacific Ocean that was conceived and negotiated behind closed doors, and filled with immigration and environmentalist leftwing ideas - an agreement President Barack Obama would love TPA and TAA to pass in regards to, TPA is the Trade Promotion Authority, a.k.a. Fast Track, which allows the President to negotiate free trade agreements without asking for congressional approval along the way.  When it does get to Congress, rather than needing two-thirds ratification by the Senate for approval, it only needs a simple majority "up or down" approval by Congress.  TAA is Trade Adjustment Assistance, a labor union money laundering allowance and retraining program for employees on their way out of jobs as a result of high labor costs inflicted by unions that result in jobs running elsewhere), the Republican Party has failed to be grand as they side with President Obama.  Fascinatingly, I find myself in agreement with labor unions and the Democrats in my opposition to this madness that betrays congress's constitutional duties regarding commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8).  The House of Representatives gratefully failed to pass the Senate version of trade promotion authority (TPA) last week which included TAA, an ineffective and unnecessary welfare program. To remedy this the House will vote on a standalone TPA bill today which they are debating at this moment.

The problem is that the Republicans, so blinded with trying to get free trade passed, no matter the consequences, or the rabid gremlins lurking inside the agreements, fail to recognize the true folly of their support for it.  Heritage Action’s CEO Michael Needham had a few things to say about what is going on that I think was quite enlightening:

“This reveals the intellectual bankruptcy of Republican leadership. Instead of using last week’s embarrassment to reevaluate the policy they opted for a new procedural gimmick to get the same nonsense passed. Members should vote no.

“Republicans weren’t given majorities so they could cede control to Democrats. They need to listen to the people, stop passing the same policies that are failing our country, and embrace an agenda built on the principle of opportunity for all and favoritism to none.”

Read about Needham's position here.

A Washington Examiner piece also puts things in perspective.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Looks like the end of the Republican party