Woot! TPP looks dead for this year

It may well be time for Teamsters to celebrate. The secret Trans-Pacific Partnership, also known as the TPP, looks to be dead this year!

A key U.S. House of Representatives leader said yesterday there isn't enough time left on the calendar to pass a fast one 'fast track' legislation. 'Fast track' is just a euphemism for 'rubber stamp,' and without a rubber stamp, the TPP will not pass.

Here's why: If people knew what was in the TPP, they'd throw everyone who voted for it out of office. It's a deal to destroy democracy, empower corporations, lower wages, censor the Internet, raise the price of medicine and undermine food safety. Giant corporations have been let in on the negotiations, but the American public has not. Even members of Congress are only allowed tiny peeks at the TPP texts. 

Fortunately, Congress may have already killed the TPP by sending two letters opposing fast track. They were signed by 173 lawmakers, 151 Democrats and 22 Republicans.  

Reuters reports,

The Obama administration's hopes of securing "fast-track" trade negotiating authority from Congress this year look certain to be dashed given the limited time left on the congressional calendar, the No. 2 House Democrat said on Tuesday. 

The administration wants Congress to quickly pass Trade Promotion Authority, or TPA, to help it secure a trade agreement with 11 other Pacific Rim nations, including Australia, Chile, Canada, Japan, Malaysia and Mexico. 

"I don't realistically see TPA moving," House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer told reporters, saying that Congress would likely be busy with other bills during the eight working days it has left in 2013.

Of course, there's always next year....