by Dean Baker | May 18, 2015 | Blog, Trans-Pacific Partnership
The debate over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has taken center stage in policy circles in recent weeks. Its proponents promise a major economic bonanza from expanded trade. It's not clear that the economics supports this claim. The United States Department of...
by Richard Eskow | May 18, 2015 | Blog, Trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership
Well, this is awkward. A few days ago President Obama literally laughed off Sen. Elizabeth Warren's concern that his so-called “fast track” provision, which would limit Congressional power regarding trade deals for the next six years, endangers 2010's Dodd/Frank...
by Dave Johnson | May 15, 2015 | Blog, Trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership
President Obama says progressives who warn that trade laws let corporations overrule U.S. law are "making this stuff up." Two attacks on U.S. laws and regulations are underway right now, illustrating how the "corporate courts" provisions in the Trans-Pacific...
by Terrance Heath | May 15, 2015 | Blog, Conservatism
This week, wingnut heads exploded when President Obama took right-wingers to task for shaming low-income Americans and Michelle Obama spoke about her experience as the first African-American first lady. Let’s be honest, it doesn’t take much to get wingnuts going. It...
by Dave Johnson | May 15, 2015 | Blog, Trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership
As promised, here is the list of Democratic senators who joined Republicans to break the filibuster of fast track trade promotion authority. Fast track essentially preapproves the Trans-Pacific Partnership before the pubic gets a chance to know what is in it. As I...
by Isaiah J. Poole | May 15, 2015 | Blog, Jobs and Growth
A legislative committee this week sent to the Michigan Senate a law that would eliminate prevailing wage laws on state construction contracts. The law is designed to push down wages paid to workers on the projects. The fact that the law does not have the support of...
