President Obama repeats a mantra on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement: “If we don’t write the rules, China will write the rules in that region….” But two recent revelations of major Chinese misbehavior — another massive cyber hack, this time of the Office of Personnel Management database, and the build-out of South China…
Details
In an op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal, Senator Rand Paul announced his tax plan. While Herman Cain had his 9-9-9 plan, you can think of Mr. Paul’s approach as the 14.5-14.5 plan: He would replace all of today’s federal taxes with a 14.5 percent flat personal income tax and a 14.5 percent value-added tax.…
Details
President Obama and GOP leaders in both chambers are inching toward a deal to save the White House trade agenda. [Reposted from The Hill | Alexander Bolton and Scott Wong | June 17, 2015] Republican leaders announced the House will vote Thursday on giving Obama fast-track authority, less than a week after a failed vote…
Details
WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) today delivered the following remarks on the House floor in opposition to TPA, the “fast-track” trade bill: [Reposted from the Ways and Means site | Sander Levin | June 18, 2015] It is said that we should write the rules, not China. But make…
Details
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 18, 2015 Contact: Sara Haimowitz, [email protected] The Coalition for a Prosperous America CEO, Michael Stumo, today issued a statement regarding the close House vote in favor of Fast Track trade authority for President Obama. “Pro-trade deficit legislators achieved a close house vote for ‘Fast Track’ trade authority today. Because the…
Details
House GOP leaders seeking to rebound after a surprise floor defeat on trade are zeroing in on a new strategy to grant President Obama fast-track authority. [Reposted from The Hill | Scott Wong and Mike Lillis | June 16, 2015] The plan is to vote as soon as this week on the fast-track bill approved…
Details
June 16, 2015 House Republican leaders are cracking down on rebellious members after a near-disaster on a trade vote last week, but another imperiled rule coming to the House floor Tuesday is making it difficult to punish the members who leaders need to pass the measure. [Reposted from the National Journal | Daniel Newhauser | …
Details
House Speaker John Boehner and Republican leaders are moving to revive President Barack Obama’s beleaguered trade agenda with an elaborate procedural workaround that was quickly greeted with skepticism among some Democrats. [Reposted from Politico | Manu Raju and Jack Sherman | Juen 16, 2015] Under the emerging plan, the House would vote on a bill…
Details
WASHINGTON — The path ahead for President Barack Obama’s battered trade agenda is coming into focus. Here’s how it is likely to unfold, according to well-placed House and Senate sources. [Reposted from the Huffington Post | Ryan Grim | June 16, 2015] First, a few definitions. TPA: Trade promotion authority, aka “fast track.” Obama and…
Details
On Friday, June 12th, 2015, the House of Representatives held an extensive debate on whether Congress should adopt fast track rules for ratifying the Trans Pacific Partnership. Advocates of this secret trade deal made arguments that took them into a world of fantasy economics and delusional politics. Some examples illustrate that point. [Reposted with the…
Details