Why Ted Cruz is Right on TPA

Reclaim DC ^ | May 22, 2015 | David Serenda

[SoConPubbie]

It has been said that politics makes strange bedfellows. Well, there is no finer example of that statement than the recent votes on the Trade Promotion Authority. Free trade has long been advanced by conservatives who understand the need to expand our markets beyond our borders. On the other side stands the democrats and the radical left who fear competition and doubt America’s exceptionalism. Yesterday, the Senate cleared the 60 vote hurdle to bring the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) up for a vote. I for one, welcome President Obama to the side of common sense solutions, to help solve the economic disaster that his domestic policies have created. I only wish that he would use that common sense more often.

 

If you have listened to Ted Cruz speak on the economy, you will hear him promote the idea of free trade. One of the many reasons I support Ted Cruz for President is his common sense solutions to solve America’s economic problems. America has experienced a trade deficit for as long as I can remember. A large part of that stems from poorly negotiated trade deals in the past, high tariffs being placed on American products by foreign governments, and currency manipulation. The TPA is a step in the right direction to resolve many of the trade imbalance issues and will provide a set of strict guidelines for negotiations.

 

What exactly is TPA or fast track? I am glad you’ve asked. Trade Promotion Authority, TPA, and Fast Track all refer to the same piece of legislation. First, it is important to note that TPA is not a trade agreement in and of itself, but rather Congress establishing a set of requirements that the President must follow in every trade deal he submits through the TPA “fast track” legislation. By Congress authorizing this legislation they are able to have a part in the terms of the negotiations that take place with foreign governments. In addition to controlling the outline of any trade deal, they are able to force the President to share with them the details of any trade deals as he is negotiating. There are many opportunities for Congress to read and be involved in these negotiations if they really had a desire. There is also a requirement for public summaries to be released throughout the process of the negotiations. Once the trade agreement is completed it must be made available to the public before Congress is able to vote on it.

 

Without the TPA the President is able to negotiate any trade deal without any input from Congress or the American people. Even more alarming the President has the authority to conduct these negotiations in secret and only make them public when he submits them to Congress for approval. Once in Congress the process of buying votes and adding poison pills to the legislation corrupts the entire process. If we know anything about Washington, it is that its corruption runs deeper than the oceans. For these reasons previous Congress, both democratic and republican, have authorized “fast track” legislation.

 

As with anything in politics there are groups who, in an effort to promote their ideology of isolationism, will put out misinformation in order to derail legislation that they oppose. As with anything you read or hear about legislation coming out of Washington, familiarize yourself with not only the facts of the legislation, but any potential bias or agenda the author may be hiding.

 

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

    Ted Cruz Ping!

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[skeeter]

Someone’s gotta be lying.

[EternalVigilance]

So, according to the writer, if you don’t support this bill you’re an isolationist.

Nuts.

[GraceG]

Call me ignorant, i don’t care, call me a protectionist, I don’t care.

I believe in free trade... ONLY Between countries that have the following THREE things in common: Economic Development Level, Social/cultural Development level, and Personal Freedom/liberty level.

We CAN trade Freely with countries like Canada. the UK, Japan, South Korea, and Israel.

We CANNOT trade freely with countries like China, India, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

[SoConPubbie]

Then you are dooming our economy and killing off jobs.

Congratulations!

[RIghtwardHo]

Nope. He is 100% wrong.

[Gaffer]

If Cruz is for this, then this is where he and I differ. It remains to be seen if this is a deal breaker for me. I am not in favor of any legislation, the details of which are unknown before enactment. Not even.

You cannot wish and hope and dream that your President and his ilk have any semblance of an ounce of decency and regard for this country other than devolving it into a third world sh!t hole country.

[jospehm20]

+1

[Smokin' Joe]

By Congress authorizing this legislation they are able to have a part in the terms of the negotiations that take place with foreign governments. In addition to controlling the outline of any trade deal, they are able to force the President to share with them the details of any trade deals as he is negotiating. There are many opportunities for Congress to read and be involved in these negotiations if they really had a desire. There is also a requirement for public summaries to be released throughout the process of the negotiations. Once the trade agreement is completed it must be made available to the public before Congress is able to vote on it.

While I think Congressional oversight is a good thing, I would like to see the exemption removed for insider trading. Possessing knowledge of how a trade deal is going to affect individual companies before that information is made public will have the potential to be lucrative.

[Timber Rattler]

As you know Pubbie, I'm a solid Cruz supporter and have been ever since Sarah Palin endorsed him in May 2012. However, he really screwed up with that 'Aye' vote and then affixing his name to that weak Op Ed with Ryan trying to justify it.

There is no justification, period, for enabling the Obama Regime on anything.

[cripplecreek]

Our trade problems are local, not foreign.

If we want to bring jobs to America we need to deal with the tax and regulatory problems.

[HarleyLady27]

Taking jobs away from America, American workers who feed their families, purchase items makes tax money for the cities, counties, states and government...

Take jobs away then you have gotten rid of the monies and no one gets ahead except the government leaders who pockets our money....

Does this sound like a wise thing to do?

I think Cruz has drank the Kool-Aid in Washington D.C. and is no better than Obama or the others....

[Wolfie]

American workers simply have to accept third world wages and third world living standards. Then we really will be the greatest nation on Earth.

[boycott]

What exactly is TPA or fast track?

---

How would this guy know? The trade bill is SECRET.

If it,was such a good deal for us, there would be no need for it to be secret.

[DaxtonBrown]

Is Cruz perfect? Noooo. None of them are. Would he follow the laws a conservative legislature passed? In a heart beat. Would Jeb Bush do better? No Way.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah, that’s exactly what I said.

Moron.

[GraceG]

[ Then you are dooming our economy and killing off jobs.

Congratulations! ]

Yes and all because I think we should be represented by our politicians and not (barf) “governed” by them....

[Wolfie]

Every trade deal increases our trade deficit. Supporting another one is truly moronic.

[dowcaet]

Bingo. That’s it. Give American created businesses and entrepreneurs the financial incentives and security so they don’t keep bailing to Asia and elsewhere taking their money and jobs with them. It’s amazing how no major American politician seems to be saying this. Instead, they insist that a new trade agreement, negotiated in secret and kept away from the eyes of the American people, is the solution. Please.