Rejecting Obamatrade

The political elites in Washington, D.C. are in the process of pulling a fast one — the biggest fraud on the American people since Obamacare. But unlike the fiasco that was consideration of Obamacare, this time the House Republican leadership is fully engaged as willing co-conspirators, scrambling this week to schedule a fast-track vote for the first part of a series of President Obama’s large-scale trade deals. 

While most of us were focused on plans for the Memorial Day weekend, the Senate was quickly voting to grant Obama this “fast track” authority. The move gives Obama the ability to unilaterally negotiate a trade deal with a group of nations, while denying Congress the opportunity to fully debate and offer amendments to the final treaty. Now in June, we’re already learning what a bad idea this was. 

{mosads}What the president, along with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are trying is the clearest example of just where their misguided loyalties lie. 

This behemoth proposal from the White House, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), will have vast impact on American businesses and workers, but just about the only people who know what’s in the agreement are the 28 working groups — consisting mostly of lobbyists — who wrote their own portion of the agreements. Not only do members of Congress have trouble accessing the text of the negotiations, but they have to sign nondisclosure agreements before looking at it and a classified reading room where all notes from the members and staff must be surrendered before exiting. Really? 

While many details of the TPP are not known, it is clear this agreement would expand Obama’s executive authority. Already willing to exercise powers in unconstitutional ways, this president — as a recent Breitbart report shows — will accrue even more power under this agreement, which even includes secret provisions to expand the White House’s authority over immigration. 

America has been down this road before. When the “Gang of Eight” amnesty bill was under consideration, it grew from 744 pages to more than 1,000 during consideration. But unlike what House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said during consideration of Obamacare, we should not have to pass bills to find out what’s in them. 

As the co-founder of Tea Party Patriots, I am proud to stand with fellow tea party activists in support of trade and expanding opportunities for American entrepreneurs. Supporting economic growth is a pillar of conservatism, as it creates more and better paying jobs, which help all of us live the American dream by increasing our own control over our own lives.

Obama’s previous lawlessness on a range of issues should not be rewarded with expanded executive authority. And there should always be public scrutiny of bills before they are voted upon. Conservative House members should oppose this fast-track legislation.

Martin is co-founder and CEO of Tea Party Patriots.