Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown Slams Obama-Backed TPP As 'Massive Sellout Of American Workers'

[portlander23]

Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown Slams Obama-Backed TPP As 'Massive Sellout Of American Workers'
David Sirota
International Business Times

Brown is now urging voters to sign a petition demanding Obama immediately release the text of the TPP, which was finalized earlier this month. The Obama administration is obligated to release the full text of the agreement before any congressional vote on the TPP, but the administration recently went to court to keep the text secret for the time being. Brown asserted that as a legislator, he needs to see the text immediately.

"My job is to represent the people of Ohio," he wrote, "and that job gets a lot tougher when I don’t know the specifics of a proposal with huge potential impact on our state."

But in a new letter to Obama echoing Brown’s call for more transparency, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka on Tuesday expressed dismay about how the administration could at once proudly promote the deal as a good one for American workers yet also have the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office keep the text of the agreement under wraps.

“In my experience, when there is such good news to share, there is no need for secrecy,” Trumka wrote. “If TPP will do for the American middle class all that USTR claims, releasing the text would be the single best way to prove that.”

Related:

Here’s how much corporations paid US senators to fast-track the TPP bill

How Did Hillary Clinton Know The TPP Didn't Meet Her Standards Without The Final Text

Fact Check: Clinton lied about her support of the TPP

Vox: Hillary Clinton's flip-flop on the TPP makes no sense

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. But they can't prove it...because it isn't good for American workers. n/t

[TheBlackAdder]

7. Exactly... This TPP sure appears to stink on ice for them to keep it under wraps. nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Obama isn't going to release the text until he has to. I agree with Trumka,

If it's so good for American workers, release it.

It's not good for American workers, so it stays under wraps. They really do think we're stupid.

When 600 Corporations write a Trade Bill, you KNOW it doesn't help U.S. workers!

[Babel_17]

3. If the negotiations are over, the deal finalized, then the text should be released (nt)

[99th_Monkey]

9. Especially because TPP apologists repeatedly claim "the final text will be available"

for something like 90 days, before any action will be taken on it.

Classic bait & switch duplicity. If it's so great for workers, then show us the damn thing already.

[Babel_17]

11. It's the guy she met at school

Didn't want to jinx things in the beginning by bringing him over to meet the folks. But now she's wearing his school ring, and they're going steady. Time for him to stop over and introduce himself.

[madfloridian]

4. .....

[sadoldgirl]

5. if it has been finalized,

can reporters not get it from Canada or
Australia? Why wait for Obama, if other
participating countries must have it as well?

[TheBlackAdder]

10. Good Point! Finalized, means it isn't changing, so what's the harm in releasing it? Unless...

Last edited Sat Oct 17, 2015, 11:21 PM - Edit history (1)

.


Countries that will benefit will delay the release too, for fear of losing out.

Corporations who will benefit in labor-losing countries will want to keep it under wraps.




So there really seems to be a desire to keep this contained, unless there is a rogue liberal country who is pissed off!


.

[Ed Suspicious]

12. The harm is the fear of an "American Spring."

They want the tpp to slip quietly under the radar of a complacent and lazy American public. It will not.

[HereSince1628]

17. Yes, but it's pretty obviously American Autumn

American Spring is w.a.y. down the road, and by then, there will be corporations that will take care of it!

[CharlotteVale]

6. He's one of the few Democrats on our side anymore.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, portlander.

[appalachiablue]

13. K & R. Sherrod Brown's great. One of few on top of issues like TPP that impacts workers.

[JRLeft]

14. By now every should recognize the Third Way President.

Obama is bought and paid for.

[sabrina 1]

15. Brown has been VERY ANGRY about this for a long time. And he has been EXCELLENT on

calling them on their secrecy and deceptions. And on the prevention of Congress from participating in writing LEGISLATION for this country.

It is APPALLING.

I bet Hillary was hoping it would be dragged out until after the election because it is a NUMBER ONE issue for voters, every Union in the Country opposes it.

So she HAD to say she opposes once it became an issue again.

[Scuba]

16. K&R