P1FD: Demanding Transparancy for the TPP 9 PM EST

Press [1] For Democracy covers current political news from a transpartisan viewpoint. In other words, putting the country before the party. Extra emphasis on Money in Politics issues. he Trans-Pacific Partnership, more commonly referred to as the TPP is Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and 12 Asian Pacific countries. Like other such agreements, it is been being created and negotiated by the the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), who reports directly to the President. Work on the TPP began in 2005 under the Bush Administration and has continued during of the Obama Administration. And now, the President has begun talk of using the Fast Track Option to limit debate on and amendments to the agreement during the congressional approval process; a process the President had aimed to complete by the end of 2013. Twenty-nine chapters in length, many are calling it NAFTA on steroids. The White House claims that the purpose of the agreement is to make it easier for American companies to do business in the region. However, those who oppose the treaty are saying it will do great harm to the vast majority of Americans by handing over even greater power to large, multinational corporations. But here's the rub. There's no way for any of us to be certain which is true because for the past eight years, the TPP has been negotiated in total secrecy. Well, almost total secrecy. While the American people and even members of Congress are being denied access to the contents of the TPP, 600 representatives from corporations such as Halliburton, Monsanto, Chevron, and Walmart are helping to write it. What we want to know is this: Should the Coffee Party officially demand transparency from the White House on the TPP so that it can be properly vetted by The People?