The Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition will join local workers, environmental and family farm representatives at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9 outside Rep. Ron Kind’s La Crosse office for a press conference on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and its damaging impact on the 1st Congressional District, Wisconsin and the United States. The coalition of workers and community members will encourage Rep. Kind to vote ‘no’ on undemocratic “fast track” procedures for passage of this huge new so-called “free trade” agreement. '
The Trans Pacific Partnership is a massive, 12-nation trade deal being negotiated in secret behind Congress and the backs of the American people. The TPP would encourage companies to outsource millions of good-paying American jobs to low-wage foreign countries, resulting in a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions at home and abroad. The TPP also threatens environmental standards, food safety and labeling provisions—in addition to banning “Buy American” and “Buy Local” laws and giving foreign corporations in the US greater rights than American companies.
To push through the TPP, Congress is being asked to grant the president what is called “Fast Track” authority. Fast Track would let the president sign trade deals before Congress even gets to vote on them. “Fast Track” requires a Congressional vote on the trade agreement within 60 days, limits debate to 20 hours, and prohibits amendments. In reality, what that means is no real Congressional or public scrutiny or analysis of what is presented to Congress.
It is for these reasons that the organizations who are members of the Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition are so concerned that Rep. Ron Kind has pledged his support of the Trans Pacific Partnership and “Fast Track” procedures to pass it. We do not feel that Rep. Kind’s positions represent the true interests of the residents of the 1st Congressional District which he represents. We hope that Rep. Kind will reconsider his positions.
WHO: David Newby, President, Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition
Bill Brockmiller, President, Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO
Phil Neuenfeldt, President, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
Representatives of environmental groups, local workers and family farm groups
WHAT: Press conference to oppose passage of “Fast Track” for passage of Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement
WHEN: 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 9, 2013
WHERE: On Sidewalk Outside Rep. Kind’s La Crosse Office
205 Fifth Avenue S.
Comments