Wyden betrays US Labor, cuts "deal" with GOP to pass TPP

[99th_Monkey]

I know this is just his latest betrayal. Selling out workers for
a paltry "retraining" provision for displaced workers ...

This guy needs to go next election. What a crying shame for Wyden
to use the seniority he's gained over the years in the Senate to pull a
blatent pro-corporate stunt like this.

Ron Wyden renews support for trade bill after striking deal with GOP leadership
By Jeff Mapes * The Oregonian * June 22, 2015

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Monday that he remains a firm supporter of the "fast-track" trade bill and will continue to play a major role in helping revive the legislation after it ran into trouble in the House.

Wyden, who has parted ways with most of his Democratic colleagues on the trade issue, announced that he would support a new fast-track measure after negotiations with Republican congressional leaders and key Democratic lawmakers over the last week.

"Taken together, this is the most progressive trade package ever produced," Wyden said in a statement. "I spent months negotiating this deal because it is in our country's best interest."

President Barack Obama has pushed heavily for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, saying it will help create more American jobs by boosting exports to Asian countries. He's faced determined opposition from organized labor, which fears it will lead more manufacturers to move overseas.

The fast-track bill calls for an up-or-down vote on the Trans-Pacific agreement – which is still in final negotiations – with no amendments allowed.

http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2015/06/ron_wyden_renews_support_for_t.html#incart_river

[Purveyor]

1. Again I ask...if it is so good for the US workers,why is there a need for a 'retraining provision'.

Just what are they going to 'retrain' the 50-60's who lose their livelihood to do? Wal-mart greaters?

[grasswire]

2. and he had the audacity to ask me for money today..

......apparently he hasn't realized that he is going to lose his seat and money isn't going to help.

[cascadiance]

4. Call Peter DeFazio's office and encourage him to announce he's running this week...

The timing will be perfect right after this bill gets voted on in the coming days before being sent to Obama to sign. I just called his Eugene office a little while ago this morning. Go here to find where you can contact Mr. DeFazio's offices:

http://defazio.house.gov/contact/contact-peter

And then if you get a call or email from Wyden for money, tell him that each time you get one of those you will then send it to DeFazio's campaign instead to unseat him in the Senate.

[grasswire]

6. good idea to send to DeFazio and tell Wyden so.

I tried four times this morning to reach Wyden's office -- busy phone each time.

[msongs]

3. he is just supporting the president. what's the prob? nt

[cascadiance]

5. When the president is also wrong on this, then why is this a "good thing"?

The president doesn't have to worry about getting reelected, which allows him to do CRAP like this and still be taken care of by those who are paying him to push this CRAP! Wyden should know though that if he wants to stay in the Senate that he's just shown that he's no longer representing us, but representing money, and should be shown the door this coming election if that is his choice!

[cascadiance]

7. Act Blue now has a pulse poll to ask if we want DeFazio primarying Wyden...

Go Here.

http://act.democracyforamerica.com/survey/ORsen16pulsepoll/?

[99th_Monkey]

8. Done. Thanks

I generally don't do these kinds of polls, because then I HATE getting bombarded
with emails wanting money by the poll sponsors.

But in this case, I did it anyway.

[cascadiance]

9. I couldn't spend money on them even if I wanted to today...

Since I just lost my wallet day before yesterday, and still don't have any credit cards to use at the moment.

[99th_Monkey]

10. Ouch.

Sorry to hear that. I hate it when that happens.

[Ken Burch]

13. Damn. Sorry to hear that. n/t.

[cascadiance]

11. Now here's a speech that our other Senator Merkley gave to the Senate on the TPA...

He goes in to nice details on why it is a bad deal for Americans. Wish his fellow Oregon senator Wyden had listened to him more and adjusted his vote accordingly! Even though Wyden's running this year, I think I still will make a point of going to Merkley's BBQ next month and giving to his campaign then. He's always a great guy to shake hands with and spends time talking to us when he does!

http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-statement-on-senate-passage-of-fast-track

MERKLEY STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF “FAST TRACK”
Wednesday, June 24, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed “fast track” trade legislation for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other future trade deals:

“When crafting a new trade structure, our national objective should be raising wages and living standards for middle-class Americans. Past trade deals have consistently failed to live up to their promises and made it harder for working Americans to get ahead. Unfortunately, the fast track bill passed by the Senate today does not change that fundamental structure – a structure which has led so many past trade deals to create job losses and falling wages for working Americans.
“Many Americans understand that competing for jobs with workers earning rock-bottom wages in other countries hurts them and hurts our economy. That’s why I pressed to use this opportunity to make sure that future agreements truly have meaningful, rising labor and environmental standards, and that they’re able to be enforced. Despite the hard work of many on both sides of this debate, this trade framework ultimately does not achieve enforceable standards on critical issues like minimum wages, currency manipulation, environmental standards, and labor standards. Thus, while some industries may benefit from this framework, new trade deals under this structure will hurt American workers. That’s why I voted ‘no’ on fast track today.”

Other pols browsing here! THIS is the kind of politician I want in Washington representing me!

[Ken Burch]

12. It's time for DeFazio.

C'mon, Peter...Oregon needs you...working people need you...the country needs you.

[99th_Monkey]

14. Yep. I signed the petition. nt

[Ken Burch]

15. I signed it, too. n/t.

If he runs, I might do phone-calling for him from up here.

[cascadiance]

16. I really like DeFazio's spirit discussed in this New York Times article!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/politics/hard-politicking-behind-democrats-yea-votes-on-trade-bill.html?_r=0

...
Officials knew there would be few Democrats open to a trade deal. Since 1979, a Democratic president had not pushed through so-called fast-track authority, which provides international trade deals an up-or-down vote in Congress without amendment or filibuster. With many Democrats suspicious that any trade deal would be a giveaway to big corporations that could lead to substantial job losses among American workers, the administration would be lucky to get more than a handful.

And there was additional pressure from unions and environmental groups who bitterly opposed the trade pact and were threatening Democrats who voted for it. At one Democratic caucus meeting, Representative Peter A. DeFazio of Oregon, an opponent of trade, lashed out at Mr. Froman.

“The politest thing to say is he is dissembling or outright lying,” Mr. DeFazio said later, a charge Mr. Froman attributes to misinformation from the opposition groups.

On the second floor of the West Wing, a “war room” became a second home to people like Mr. Froman; Jeff Zients, the director of the National Economic Council; Labor Secretary Tom Perez; and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. Slowly, they had assembled 28 pro-trade Democrats in the House and 14 in the Senate, though one of them would drop away. The Senate had passed the trade authority bill, and a worker assistance measure.
...