Reps who voted for fast track took 91% more money from corporations backing the bill

By Donny Shaw

The House of Representatives this afternoon rejected the Senate’s fast track package for the Obama administration’s trade proposals, but they also voted in favor of the fast track portion of the package itself, 219-211. Though largely symbolic, the vote shows that fast track does have the votes to pass in the House, and that will be an important factor in determining how Congress moves forward with giving the administration the fast track authority in the coming weeks.

The special fast track rules would bar members of Congress from submitting amendments to the trade proposals, limit how long they can debate them, and restrict dilatory tactics that typically create a 60-vote hurdle for legislation in the Senate.

So why would any member of Congress vote to willfully cede their power to give input on massively important trade proposals, especially when they don’t know what they will look like when they are presented to them?

But follow the money flowing to Congress from financial companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, defense companies, and other industries that have been lobbying for fast track power, and the correlation between campaign contributions and votes on the measure is clear.



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http://www.congressionaldish.com/representatives-who-voted-for-fast-track-have-taken-91-more-money-from-corporations-backing-the-trade-deals/