June 10, 2015, Fairfax, Va.–Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to a proposal Rep. Paul Ryan to amend the customs bill to supposedly “ensure that trade agreements do not require changes to U.S. law or obligate the United States with respect to global warming or climate change”:
“Paul Ryan is treating the customs bill as his own personal fast track favor factory by including deals on anti-steel dumping legislation, climate change, immigration, as well as allowing human slave trafficker Malaysia to be a part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This is a desperate attempt to attract votes to the flawed trade authority bill. Even if the customs bill were to pass and be signed by the President, none of the provisions would compel President Obama to comply with them in any treaty that he should submit to Congress. Congress has a constitutional prerogative to provide the President advice on treaties. But the President has the choice to accept that advice or not. Any Republican who is delusional enough to believe that President Obama cares what they think at all has not been paying any attention for the past six years.
“Voting to give Obama fast track trade authority based on the slim hope he will follow a non-binding suggestion–when he doesn’t even follow the law as written–is both irresponsible and foolish.”
Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.
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