Communications Workers Union to Launch Anti-TPA Effort
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is preparing to "underwrite" an advertisement in opposition to Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and is seeking national organizations to sign on to the effort, according to an email circulated by CWA. Under TPA, commonly called Fast Track, Congress agrees to suspend normal legislative procedure for trade bills, offering no amendments, limiting debate and making a simple up-or-down vote. "Fast track has had a difficult month because of the great work done by a broad range of groups" and "now it’s time to do more," said Kenneth Peres, CWA chief economist, in the email. The ad would "reflect the breadth of opposition to Fast Track."
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While a CWA spokeswoman said it does not have "definite plans for a particular publication at this time," CWA and others "have been raising concerns about fast track authority for [Trans-Pacific Partnership]. Those concerns also apply to other trade desks where citizens groups, greens, workers and members of congress are shut out of the negotiating process, as has been the case with [TPP]." A TPA bill was introduced in the Senate and the House on Jan. 9 (see 14011013).
The ad would include recent poll results showing "62 percent of voters oppose fast track authority for the Trans Pacific Partnership" and a list of groups that have signed on, the email said. The poll, conducted by the Hart Research Associates and Chesapeake Beach Consulting from Jan. 14-18, was commissioned by the CWA, Sierra Club and the U.S. Business Industry Council (here). “While opposition is relatively uniform both geographically and demographically, the survey data reveals a sharp partisan divide on the issue,” said a press release on the poll results. “Republicans overwhelmingly oppose giving fast-track authority to the president (8% in favor, 87% opposed), as do independents (20%-66%), while a narrow majority (52%) of Democrats are in favor (35% opposed).” The poll’s partisan divide runs contrary to congressional support for the legislation with Republicans.
More than two-thirds of Republicans polled say they are less likely to vote for a member of Congress that delivers TPA to Democratic President Barack Obama, the results said, with overwhelming Republican and conservative voters expressing concern that the legislation gives the president too much power. Those polled also worry TPP will have an adverse impact on U.S. small business, employment and the environment, said the release. The poll has a margin of plus or minus 3.5 percent. The CWA and Sierra Club actively oppose Trade Promotion Authority, joining more than 550 advocacy groups in a letter to Congress on Jan. 27 that rejected the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act (see 14012915).