Republicans Promise to Bring TPP Back from the Dead

On the surface, it’s strange to think that the Republicans would be so supportive of Obama’s trade deal, while his own party seems hesitant to pass it. However, this state of affairs is proof positive that there really is no difference between the two major political parties. There will always be one party that supports a proposition while the other is against it; to always maintain the illusion of discourse.

It doesn’t matter which party is doing the dissenting, which seems to be the case with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Republican leaders are planning to have another vote on the bill this Thursday, less than a week after Democrats sunk it by voting against the Trade Adjustment Assistance, a measure they would normally support. The Republicans are hoping to pass the Trade Promotion Authority now, in the hopes that Obama will rally the Democrats to pass the TAA, and fast track the TPP in the near future.

John Boehner and Mitch McConnell issued a joint statement on the matter, saying “We are committed to ensuring both TPA and TAA get votes in the House and Senate and are sent to the president for signature.” It just goes to show that it doesn’t matter who is in power. Corporate and banking interests always get their way in our political system. Sometimes, they just need more than one try.