Henderson, Nevada - Pray For US is encouraging Americans to contact the Senate in opposition to granting Barack Obama "fast track authority" on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. Mr. Obama demanded fast track authority on the trade deal during his 2013 State of the Union address.
Fast track authority would erode the system of checks and balances inherent in the U.S. Constitution; under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, the Congress has authority to negotiate foreign trade agreements rather than the executive branch.
Fast track authority would grant Barack Obama the final negotiating power on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This would essentially grant Mr. Obama the powers of a king or dictator when it comes to negotiating foreign trade deals.
Under fast track authority, the TPP would be introduced in Congress with limited debate allowed and no amendment process.
In addition, the TPP would be subject to an up-or-down vote with only a 51 percent majority required for passage, rather than the regular two-thirds vote required for treaties.
Given that the Trans-Pacific Partnership would make sweeping negative changes to the American economy, the deal deserves to be treated as any other trade deal, subject to debate and amendments by both parties.
For example, the TPP as currently written would make it vastly easier for companies to ship American jobs overseas through the removal of restrictions within the "free trade" zone. Buy American and Buy Local policies are explicitly banned under the agreement.
Even more dangerous for the American economy is the fact that foreign governments would be able to conduct business on U.S. soil while being exempt from U.S. laws. And 25 percent of public US lands (544 million acres) would be placed under management control of the United Nations and the World Bank.
Pray For US believes that the TPP will erode American sovereignty and destroy American jobs and therefore deserves a full hearing in the US Senate. Pray For US hopes that many Americans will contact the Senate to oppose fast track authority for Barack Obama.
Pray For US - Pray For The United States is an online Christian outreach ministry that directly engages in the political process in America.
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