GOP frames trade bill as win for Congress
House Republicans called top-priority trade legislation the “key to restarting America’s trade engine” in a weekly address designed to allay concerns about the measure.
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), delivering the GOP’s weekly address, framed the measure as a win for Congress in an explicit rebuke of President Obama.
“Some of the right oppose [this bill] because they don’t trust the president and his history of executive overreach,” McClintock said.
{mosads}“Well, I don’t trust him either. That’s why I support this bill. Without it, he can negotiate anything he wants. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) binds him to the will of Congress before the agreement is reached.”
The bipartisan legislation would bar lawmakers from amending trade deals by giving Obama fast-track authority.
This move, supported by both top Republicans and the White House, is seen as crucial for completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership between the U.S., Japan and 10 other Asian economies.
But Democrats and conservatives have big concerns.
GOP leaders are intent on changing minds, and have chosen to focus three consecutive weekly addresses on TPA. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) spoke about trade in previous weeks.
“Congress still has the final say in approving a trade agreement. And I want to be very clear — this legislation does not guarantee approval of any proposed trade agreement,” Isakson said last weekend.
“Every trade agreement will still be scrutinized by your representatives and by the senators in Congress.”
McClintock focused in part on the topic of immigration, a hot-button issue for conservatives worried about the trade bill.
“I’m particularly concerned about illegal immigration,” he said. “This bill forbids the president from making any changes to our laws, including our immigration laws.”
— Bernie Becker contributed
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