With 'Brave Tactic,' Sanders Tries to Slam Brakes on Fast Track
Senator invoked scheduling rule to force delay on controversial legislation
In what is being heralded as a "brave tactic," Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday temporarily blocked lawmakers from rushing through legislation that would allow the Obama administration to "Fast Track" the controversial and highly secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
Sanders forcibly delayed the Senate Finance Committee from considering Fast Track legislation by using a rarely invoked senate scheduling rule, effectively preventing the panel from looking at the trade bill until at least 4:00 PM. The committee was widely expected to endorse the legislation.
Although not technically a filibuster, Sanders' maneuver is being compared to the delaying tactic and is being met with vows from Fast Track proponents to do whatever it takes to move the legislation forward.
Huffington Post reporter Zach Carter explained Wednesday that the delay, nonetheless, is significant "because Senate Democrats, including Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), have prepared dozens of amendments to the fast-track bill, which will take several hours to address in committee. If the panel can't finish its work Wednesday, or just decides to call it a day early and resume its business tomorrow, Sanders can raise the same objection again, potentially delaying the process for several days."
Sanders said he took this step over concerns that the deal, despite its vast impact, is being rushed through Congress without public debate, or even knowledge of its contents.
"It is absurd that a trade agreement of such enormous consequence has had so little transparency," said Sanders in a press statement released Wednesday. "It is beyond belief that this agreement would let corporations sue over laws to protect public health and the environment."
"This job-killing trade deal has been negotiated in secret. It was drafted with input by special interests and corporate lobbyists but not from the elected representatives of the American people," Sanders continued. "Instead of rubber stamping the agreement, Congress and the public deserve a fair chance to learn what's in the proposal."
Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, told the Huffington Post that Sanders employed "a very brave tactic."
Sanders' move sparked heated response among colleagues, with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who chairs the committee, vowing to push the vote through no matter what.
"We're going to finish this bill today," said Hatch. "I don't care how much time it takes."
The Obama administration has aggressively pressed for Fast Track authority, which would grant Congress a "yes" or "no" vote on trade deals, but not the ability to make changes. Civil society groups, and some lawmakers in Washington, have vigorously opposed attempts to ram through the deal, which they warn would drastically expand corporate power at the expense of public protections, from public health to human rights to ecological well-being.
Under negotiation since at least 2008, the deal includes the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. These nations together represent 40 percent of the world's GDP, making this the largest trade deal yet.
But despite its vast impact, the TPP negotiations have taken place behind closed doors, and all that is known about the mammoth deal was revealed through leaks.
FINAL DAY! This is urgent.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just hours left in our Spring Campaign, we're still falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
In what is being heralded as a "brave tactic," Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday temporarily blocked lawmakers from rushing through legislation that would allow the Obama administration to "Fast Track" the controversial and highly secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
Sanders forcibly delayed the Senate Finance Committee from considering Fast Track legislation by using a rarely invoked senate scheduling rule, effectively preventing the panel from looking at the trade bill until at least 4:00 PM. The committee was widely expected to endorse the legislation.
Although not technically a filibuster, Sanders' maneuver is being compared to the delaying tactic and is being met with vows from Fast Track proponents to do whatever it takes to move the legislation forward.
Huffington Post reporter Zach Carter explained Wednesday that the delay, nonetheless, is significant "because Senate Democrats, including Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), have prepared dozens of amendments to the fast-track bill, which will take several hours to address in committee. If the panel can't finish its work Wednesday, or just decides to call it a day early and resume its business tomorrow, Sanders can raise the same objection again, potentially delaying the process for several days."
Sanders said he took this step over concerns that the deal, despite its vast impact, is being rushed through Congress without public debate, or even knowledge of its contents.
"It is absurd that a trade agreement of such enormous consequence has had so little transparency," said Sanders in a press statement released Wednesday. "It is beyond belief that this agreement would let corporations sue over laws to protect public health and the environment."
"This job-killing trade deal has been negotiated in secret. It was drafted with input by special interests and corporate lobbyists but not from the elected representatives of the American people," Sanders continued. "Instead of rubber stamping the agreement, Congress and the public deserve a fair chance to learn what's in the proposal."
Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, told the Huffington Post that Sanders employed "a very brave tactic."
Sanders' move sparked heated response among colleagues, with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who chairs the committee, vowing to push the vote through no matter what.
"We're going to finish this bill today," said Hatch. "I don't care how much time it takes."
The Obama administration has aggressively pressed for Fast Track authority, which would grant Congress a "yes" or "no" vote on trade deals, but not the ability to make changes. Civil society groups, and some lawmakers in Washington, have vigorously opposed attempts to ram through the deal, which they warn would drastically expand corporate power at the expense of public protections, from public health to human rights to ecological well-being.
Under negotiation since at least 2008, the deal includes the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. These nations together represent 40 percent of the world's GDP, making this the largest trade deal yet.
But despite its vast impact, the TPP negotiations have taken place behind closed doors, and all that is known about the mammoth deal was revealed through leaks.
In what is being heralded as a "brave tactic," Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday temporarily blocked lawmakers from rushing through legislation that would allow the Obama administration to "Fast Track" the controversial and highly secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
Sanders forcibly delayed the Senate Finance Committee from considering Fast Track legislation by using a rarely invoked senate scheduling rule, effectively preventing the panel from looking at the trade bill until at least 4:00 PM. The committee was widely expected to endorse the legislation.
Although not technically a filibuster, Sanders' maneuver is being compared to the delaying tactic and is being met with vows from Fast Track proponents to do whatever it takes to move the legislation forward.
Huffington Post reporter Zach Carter explained Wednesday that the delay, nonetheless, is significant "because Senate Democrats, including Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), have prepared dozens of amendments to the fast-track bill, which will take several hours to address in committee. If the panel can't finish its work Wednesday, or just decides to call it a day early and resume its business tomorrow, Sanders can raise the same objection again, potentially delaying the process for several days."
Sanders said he took this step over concerns that the deal, despite its vast impact, is being rushed through Congress without public debate, or even knowledge of its contents.
"It is absurd that a trade agreement of such enormous consequence has had so little transparency," said Sanders in a press statement released Wednesday. "It is beyond belief that this agreement would let corporations sue over laws to protect public health and the environment."
"This job-killing trade deal has been negotiated in secret. It was drafted with input by special interests and corporate lobbyists but not from the elected representatives of the American people," Sanders continued. "Instead of rubber stamping the agreement, Congress and the public deserve a fair chance to learn what's in the proposal."
Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, told the Huffington Post that Sanders employed "a very brave tactic."
Sanders' move sparked heated response among colleagues, with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who chairs the committee, vowing to push the vote through no matter what.
"We're going to finish this bill today," said Hatch. "I don't care how much time it takes."
The Obama administration has aggressively pressed for Fast Track authority, which would grant Congress a "yes" or "no" vote on trade deals, but not the ability to make changes. Civil society groups, and some lawmakers in Washington, have vigorously opposed attempts to ram through the deal, which they warn would drastically expand corporate power at the expense of public protections, from public health to human rights to ecological well-being.
Under negotiation since at least 2008, the deal includes the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. These nations together represent 40 percent of the world's GDP, making this the largest trade deal yet.
But despite its vast impact, the TPP negotiations have taken place behind closed doors, and all that is known about the mammoth deal was revealed through leaks.