More concerns about Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) that would fast-track the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade deals like that Pacific Rim deal are emerging among a wide swath of House Republicans since Senate passage of the deal on a 62-37 vote.
In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, former U.S. Navy SEAL Commander Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) confirmed that he was against TPA—and questions, given Obama’s controversial Iranian and Cuban negotiations, why any Republican who believes in a strong national defense would allow him more authority to negotiate with foreign leaders.
“I support a robust economy where agriculture and businesses are able to compete in a fair and open global market,” Zinke told Breitbart News. “However, we are talking about giving Barack Obama — a president who negotiates with rogue nations like Iran and Cuba — exorbitant authority to do what he thinks is best. Just look at the bad deal he’s crafting with Iran. At this time, I don’t have faith that President Obama will negotiate in the best interest of Montana or America.”
Zinke’s concerns about prior trade deals clouding support of TPA echo the same uncertainty as House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).
“They didn’t elect us to give the president of the United States more authority to go negotiate a trade deal, particularly the same president we’ve all criticized for the terrible deal he did with Iran– is working on with Iran,” Jordan said. “So I think that combination is the problem.”
House members have expressed apprehension of not only losing sovereignty, but also the probability of losing domestic jobs within the country if TPA were to pass and take effect.
Several other members are rushing to come out publicly against the deal—a sign that House leadership’s hopes for easy passage aren’t likely to come true.
“We often talk about national sovereignty when it comes to our borders, but we mustn’t overlook our economic sovereignty and its significance to the workforce and families,” Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) told Breitbart News. “And fast track will guarantee that we lose more jobs and economic strength through lopsided trade deals.”
The list of House members against Obamatrade continues to grow as the vote nears. Joint Economic Committee member Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) and chairman of the House Subcommittee on CIA Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) have each asserted that they are inclined to vote against the Trade Promotion Authority bill, continuing the trend of House Republicans coming out in opposition as the Memorial Day recess comes to a close.
This all comes as now several Republican presidential candidates have expressed their ardent opposition, and just-declared Democratic presidential candidate former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley came out against it as well.