‘Read the bill’ Republicans fail to read Pacific trade treaty ahead of vote

May 8, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today urged every Senator to read the current version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership prior to voting on granting President Barack Obama trade promotion authority on it, in light of reports that most members have not read it yet:

“Breitbart’s Matt Boyle story about the failure of most of the Republican Senators who are considering voting on fast tracking the Trans-Pacific Partnership to take the time to read the treaty is eye opening and disheartening. The same political party that ridiculed former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s ‘you have to pass it to find out what’s in it’ Obamacare statement is now ignorantly plunging ahead with legislation that will expedite passage of a treaty that the president calls the “most progressive trade deal” in history.

“These ‘read the bill’ Republicans apparently would prefer to remain clueless. This failure to do their basic job of getting informed about a treaty that contains ‘living agreement’ language which could finish Obama’s intended fundamental transformation of America is startling. Only members of Congress can read the Trans-Pacific Partnership prior to Obama’s signature on fast track. Given the Senate’s scheduled vote on cloture on Tuesday, it is irresponsibly dangerous for any Senator to vote for fast tracking a treaty they have failed to read and understand.”

Attachments:

“Only Two Republicans Admit They Actually Read Secret Obama Trade Deal—Both Unsupportive,” By Matthew Boyle, May 8, 2015 at http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/05/07/only-two-republicans-admit-they-actually-read-secret-obama-trade-deal-both-unsupportive/

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government Foundation at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG Foundation President Nathan Mehrens.

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