Political Quotes

“I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, let's be clear, the Members on this side of the aisle-- the Democratic Party Members on this side of the aisle--completely understand what we are debating today. We know we are debating the rule on TPA, the same TPA which has been modified. As the gentleman has said, we are not debating TPP. The problem we have is, the trade promotion authority is intended to be the method by which this body, this Congress creates the parameters for negotiation of trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. And the reason that this has been difficult, this House and the Republican leadership, in particular, is trying to create a TPA that accommodates the already negotiated TPP. So while it is a good rhetorical argument to say we are not debating TPP, the fact of the matter is, the reason that there has been such a lack of willingness to consider any modification, any amendments to the TPA bill is because any change would not align with the already negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership. The reason, for example, that a bipartisan amendment that I and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Clawson) offered--with equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans, 22 of us--to deal with currency manipulation was not made in order is because it would not align with the already negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership. Most everybody agrees that it would be good policy, but this deal is already written.…”