If anyone needs more evidence why the Trans-Pacific Partnership (
TPP) free trade agreement shouldn’t be rushed through Congress on the “Fast Track,” which does not allow any amendments or improvements in the deal—just a take-it-or-leave-it, yes-or-no vote—read Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Mass.) column in today’s
Washington Post.
While it’s pretty much a given that big corporations—not working people—have been the winners in free trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement and Central America Free Trade Agreement over the years, Warren exposes a frightening tool in the TPP that gives corporations unimaginable power over the United States’ legal system. Here’s how she describes the “Investor-State Dispute Settlement,” or ISDS, provision.
ISDS would allow foreign companies to challenge U.S. laws—and to potentially pick up huge payouts from taxpayers—without ever stepping foot in a U.S. court. Here’s how it would work. Imagine that the United States bans a toxic chemical that is often added to gasoline because of its health and environmental consequences. If a foreign company that makes the toxic chemical opposes the law, it would normally have to challenge it in a U.S. court. But with ISDS, the company could skip the U.S. courts and go before an international panel of arbitrators. If the company won, the ruling couldn’t be challenged in U.S. courts, and the arbitration panel could require America's taxpayers to cough up millions—and even billions—of dollars in damages.

There's one last Senate vote today. Tell them "NO" on Fast Track! Call or e-mail - right now. Below is a list of every Senate Democrat who voted to let Fast Track steamroll over us. Pick one, pick them all, and MAKE THEM LISTEN. Courage, Rep. Alan Grayson Bennet, Michael F. - (D - CO)Class III261 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-5852Contact: www.bennet.senate.gov/contact/ Cantwell, Maria - (D - WA)Class I511 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-3441Contact: www.cantwell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-maria Carper, Thomas R. - (D - DE)Class I513 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-2441Contact: carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-senator-carper Coons, Christopher A. - (D - DE)Class II127A Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-5042Contact: www.coons.senate.gov/contact/ Feinstein, Dianne - (D - CA)Class I331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-3841Contact: www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me Heitkamp, Heidi - (D - ND)Class I110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-2043Contact: www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact Kaine, Tim - (D - VA)Class I388 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-4024Contact: www.kaine.senate.gov/contact McCaskill, Claire - (D - MO)Class I730 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-6154Contact: www.mccaskill.senate.gov/contact Murray, Patty - (D - WA)Class III154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-2621Contact: www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme Nelson, Bill - (D - FL)Class I716 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-5274Contact: www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact-bill Shaheen, Jeanne - (D - NH)Class II506 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-2841Contact: www.shaheen.senate.gov/contact/ Warner, Mark R. - (D - VA)Class II475 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-2023Contact: www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact Wyden, Ron - (D - OR)Class III221 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-5244Contact: www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/