The Senate Finance Committe, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus, begins hearings today on the proposal to fast track approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement.
As you know, Baucus doesn't have to run for re-election next year, he's been appointed by the Obama WH as US Ambassador to China.
You can watch the hearings live at this link. You may want to watch on your own, as its unlikely this important legislation will get much coverage in the news media.
More information below the orange thingy.
NAFTA On Steroids, TPP is bad for workers
Ed Schultz did an excellent review on his show yesterday of the myriad problems with the secretive TPP and the manner in which it is being shoved through Congress. One of his guests is Montana Dem Brian Schweitzer.
This is a MUST WATCH show, packed with information
Link to Ed Show 1/15/2014 show on TPP
Ed also had a few choice observations about Sen. Baucus' hearing on the fast track legislation:
No US trade agreement in recent history has created jobs. NAFTA cost us 700,000 manufacturing jobs to date.
Max Baucus introduced the fast track legislation, Reid opposes it and Baucus has stacked his Senate Finance Committee hearings with testimony from people who favor TPP.
Over 190 legislators oppose the TPP fast track authority bill. All are concerned about the secrecy of the agreement.
TPP is a classified document, shared with all the corporations involved in negotiations, but unavailable for public view. Legislators can look at the document, but can't take notes or bring staffers.
Obama wants TPP, period, but he hasn't explained what TPP means to the US or what it will do to US manufacturing jobs.
If we want to protect jobs in the US, we need to stop Baucus' Fast Track legislation.
Update: Links to Congressional web pages on TPP bills in Senate and House:
House Web Site on HR 3830
Senate Finance Committee Web Page on S.1900
Follow the links on these web sites to find and contact the members. Give them an earful, make them go on record and don't let up on the pressure.
Update 2: Poopdogcomedy has an excellent diary on this topic, with a link to Democracy For America's petiton to stop TPP and it's fast track bills.