Elizabeth & Bernie Sighted at TPP "Fast Track" Demonstration on Capitol Hill

[KoKo]

Progressives Take Stand as Fast Track Fight Kicks into High Gear on Capitol Hill

And, a Shout Out to the Five Other Democrats listed below in the article:

"The grassroots movement against Fast Track is nationwide—and it’s not just labor," Celeste Drake, the AFL-CIO's trade policy specialist, told The Hill. "It's folks from the environmental, consumer, faith, farm, business and good governance communities as well. And we're having an impact."

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/15/progressives-take-stand-fast-track-fight-kicks-high-gear-capitol-hill


With legislation to speed up congressional approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership and other corporate-friendly trade deals on the verge of being introduced in Congress, a coalition of elected officials, labor unions, and environmental groups gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to voice their vehement opposition to such a bill.

The Hill reported Tuesday that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) was "optimistic" about introducing 'Fast Track' legislation as early as Wednesday—the same day an estimated 1,000 labor and environmental activists converged in Washington, D.C. to spread the message: "Stop Fast Track."

"The voices of workers will be in the halls of Congress and at our rally to declare U.S. trade deals have been nothing more than broken promises of lost jobs and closed factories that are wiping out middle class American families," said United Steelworkers president Leo W. Gerard.

U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.); Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), and Tim Ryan (D-Ohio); as well as AFL-CIO executive vice president Tefere Gebre and Sierra Club national campaign director Debbie Sease, were among those who rallied against Fast Track and the TPP on Wednesday.


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"The grassroots movement against Fast Track is nationwide—and it’s not just labor," Celeste Drake, the AFL-CIO's trade policy specialist, told The Hill. "It's folks from the environmental, consumer, faith, farm, business and good governance communities as well. And we're having an impact."

As Common Dreams reported Tuesday, Democratic support for Fast Track is dwindling, with just 15 House Democrats on the record as being in favor of the legislation.

And according to The Nation on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, came out publicly as opposing Fast Track.

The AFL-CIO is also preparing for a national Day of Action to Stop Fast Track, scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Stay informed about Wednesday's actions by following #StopFastTrack on Twitter:

[99th_Monkey]

1. I wish one of them would "fast track"

to a full-throated candidacy for POTUS.

[KoKo]

3. I know...

I'm thinking they are sitting it out to watch how Hillary does in campaigning before anyone tries to jump in. No money and backing to do anything else at this point. But, while she's got all the money and power behind her for now there are Policy Issues that aren't being addressed by her, yet, and a lot of unrest in the country over inequality that may get worse going forward.

[fredamae]

2. So basically, this is the core

group in DC...out of 535 total positions....who actually Do work "for the people".

If people don't come together...fast...I fear the future for us all.
Clearly, we obviously do Not have adequate representation in DC...If We don't join this very small handful of good pols to empower them...and shit goes way further south..it's on "us". Cuz, it is, at this juncture going to Require "the peoples" participation if there is any hope at all. These pols are good, but this country's problems are waaaay bigger than them. The corporatist shit heads Used to be in the Minority...and we all, collectively put "them" in the majority. It's our mess too...let's clean it up.
(imo) Period.

[Maedhros]

4. Where is Hillary on this issue? [n/t]

[KoKo]

6. Obama supports TPP so assume she does also.

She's not talking because she thinks FAST TRACK will be approved...but, if it isn't she will make noise about how Congress can "Fix" or "Improve" it in someway and talk about "Fair Trade." Yet we know that Bill was in favor of NAFTA and Obama said in his first Campaign that NAFTA needed to be fixed to "Protect Workers" and what ever came of that.

It looks like "Fast Track" may go down....but, it will still be there to be voted on Chapter by Chapter in Congress so, its going to be a long battle dealing with it going forward to hold Congress accountable for what gets passed in legislation.

[Maedhros]

7. She helped craft the damned thing!

I just thought, that since Hillary has been out selling herself as a "champion of the middle class" that she would have joined Warren and Sanders at this event, or at least made a statement in support of stopping the TPP.

If she was really a champion of the middle class, and not just spewing empty rhetoric.

[KoKo]

8. True

and she did those Trade Agreement Deals as SOS....(former job for Secretary of Commerce)....but we aren't supposed to know that.

So...there it is. I can't see our Democrats wanting all that out there (its considered "Hillary Bashing/Hillary Haters) and most Repubs favor these deals...so who is going to make a big deal about it?

That's why I think she will avoid it and be able to get away with it. Those who bring it up will be marginalized or called "Paulites" or something.

[Maedhros]

9. On another thread, a poster said that he was "irritated" at Sanders for continuing to harp

on economic justice issues.

Ladies and gentleman, I give you Today's Democratic Party: irritated by those who stand up for the people.

[Autumn]

12. I saw that, it was a rather shocking thing to read but not surprising at all.

[L0oniX]

14. Expect to see more of the soul selling to the 1%.

[postulater]

5. Why is the flag at half-mast?

[Cheese Sandwich]

10. anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's death

http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2015/04/15/obama-abraham-lincoln-white-house-flag/25807847/

[postulater]

15. Oh, our post office must not have gotten the memo.

[Autumn]

11. Six Democrats and one Independent looking out for us.

Has the democratic presidential candidate made a statement on this yet?

[daleanime]

13. K&R.....