Political Quotes

“Madam President, this body--the Senate--continues to rush through one of the most consequential changes to U.S. economic policy this decade with little media attention, little scrutiny by committees, and little discussion from leadership of this Senate. Last week, we were called into a rushed legislative hearing on fast-track and a trade package with little notice and no bill to see. We had less than 13 hours' notice for a committee meeting--the standard here is 1 week, and I believe that is the Senate rule--on one of the most secretive documents we have seen in front of us. Senators and their staffs, Congress men and women and their staffs, have limited access to this document--the Trans-Pacific Partnership--and no access to legislation upon which we had a hearing on Thursday. It was only after the hearing that they finally decided to introduce the bill. Yet, this affects more than 50 percent of the world's GDP. Fifty percent of the world's GDP could be affected by this package. Millions of American jobs are on the line. Yet, Congress is rushing this bill through. We cannot fast-track fast-track legislation. We know what so-called free trade has done to this country. It may not affect too many people who dress like this in this town, people who wear expensive suits, but for those in the heartland and in places such as Des Moines and Iowa City and Columbus and Cleveland, we know bad trade deals have devastated towns. I grew up in Mansfield, OH.…”