PDA Tells Congress Support the Better Off Budget and Oppose the TPP

WASHINGTON - March 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) will expand their “Educate Congress Campaign” as PDA supporters deliver letters to Senators and House Members at approximately 325 Congressional offices in home states and districts as well as on Capitol Hill. This will be the 25th month of action. The House letter will call on Representatives to vote for the “Better Off Budget.” The Senate letter will ask Senators to cosponsor the American Health Security Act (S. 1782). Both letters will also ask legislators to oppose “Fast Track” authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and to oppose it whenever it comes up for a vote.

PDA National Director, Tim Carpenter said, “PDA is proud to have joined the wide coalition effort working with the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) developing the ‘Better Off Budget.’ When we invest in our people, everyone is better off. Unfortunately, the House Republican majority agenda continues to hurt working families. The ‘Better Off Budget’ would reverse policies that hurt our economy including the harsh, counterproductive, and reckless cuts known as The Sequester. It would also create a fairer tax code as well as strengthen healthcare and critical programs. When we make wise choices, we can meet human needs and decrease the deficit. The ‘Better Off Budget’ would create 8.8 million jobs by 2017, and reduce the deficit by 4.08 trillion over the next 10 years.”

Carpenter added, “Senator Bernie Sanders’ American Health Security Act (S. 1782) would provide healthcare for every American, help control costs, and enhance the quality of healthcare by granting to states the authority and flexibility to develop their own privately-provided, publicly-funded healthcare systems.This is what everyone wants: better healthcare quality at lower costs, with added flexibility for states to implement the best approached.”

Carpenter said, “Negotiations for the TPP have been conducted in secret, without full Congressional or public participation. We oppose the TPP and ‘Fast Track’—a rarely used technique that puts the President, not Congress, in control of the legislative process. Good deals don’t need ‘Fast Track’ authority. The TPP is not a good deal for the American people. It would give foreign entities unprecedented power to file claims against US citizens and businesses by alleging a law or regulation might limit profits—negating hard-won protections for the environment, employees, and consumers. We call on Congress to reject ‘Fast Track’ authority and the TPP.”

Progressive Democrats of America is a federal PAC, founded in 2004 to transform American politics and reform the Democratic Party to focus on principles including: economic and social justice; environmental protection; healthcare as a human right; ending corporate rule; election integrity; fair‚ not “free” trade; equality for all; and ending wars and occupations. See: http://www.pdamerica.org/