WASHINGTON
— Two of the Democratic Party's most vocal opponents of strengthening
President Barack Obama's hand in trade deals are taking issue with his
recent criticism and are calling on him to make public the draft text of
a still incomplete deal with 11 other Pacific rim nations.
Sens.
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sherrod Brown of Ohio sent Obama a
letter Saturday disputing his characterization of their position as
"dishonest." They said that while members of Congress can read the
draft text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, they are legally
prevented from discussing it openly and the public is barred from
examining it.
The
letter escalates what has been an increasingly personal confrontation
between Obama and his critics, most of them liberal Democrats and the
heads of organized labor who have traditionally stood behind the
president's economic policies.
Obama
has been stepping up his trade policy push, eager to make liberalized
commerce in the Asia Pacific region and in Europe signature achievements
of his last two years in office.
Obama
is first seeking so-called fast-track authority to give him more
freedom to complete the trade deals. The Trans-Pacific Partnership would
be the biggest trade deal for the U.S. and includes countries such as
Japan, Chile and Vietnam. Under fast-track authority Congress would set
the parameters for a deal, but it could only approve or reject a final
agreement, not amend it.
The
issue, which has broad Republican and corporate support, has deeply
divided Democrats, many of whom say it will cost American jobs and lower
environmental standards.
Warren,
from liberal Massachusetts, and Brown, from union heavy Ohio, have been
among the sharpest critics, arguing that the Trans-Pacific deal is
secret and would benefit businesses over workers.
Without singling them out by name, Obama lashed out at them over the last few days, calling their arguments dishonest.
"Every
single one of the critics who I hear saying this is a secret deal, or
send out emails to their fundraising base that they're working to
prevent this secret deal, could walk over today and read the text of the
agreement," Obama said Friday
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