Rep. Tom McClintock: Trade Bill Key to Fighting 'Economic Stagnation'

Controversial legislation that allows for fast-tracking of new trade deals not only will jump-start the economy and ensure America is no longer marginalized in the global economy, it also will reign in the Obama administration, Rep. Tom McClintock argues.

Delivering the Weekly Republican Address on Saturday, the California Republican says Trade Promotion Authority lets Congress set objectives for trade pacts – and take the final vote on any deal reached by the administration. It also makes the process transparent, he argues.

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"I am tired of years of economic stagnation, of watching our country marginalized, and of an administration that often operates in direct defiance of Congress and the American people," McClintock says. "This bill is a giant step to solving these problems."

McClintock argues unfair trade rules, labor standards, high taxes and foreign subsidies put American workers at a disadvantage – and to remove the barriers, "we have to negotiate trade agreements to put Americans back in the game."

It's never been more urgent, he says: since 2000, there have been 48 trade agreements among Asian nations, but Americans were part of only two of them.

"China is writing the rules while we’re left behind," McClintock warns.

McClintock explains that under the legislation, Congress sets 150 objectives that negotiators have to advance – "everything from food safety and labor standards to rules for trading on the Internet."

If they aren't met, the deal's off. If they are met, however, Congress will vote it up or down.

"This process gives our negotiating partners the confidence that the concessions that they make won’t be endlessly altered once the agreement gets to Congress," he says.

McClintock allows that the bill has critics on both sides of the aisle, noting, for example, "some on the right oppose it because they don’t trust the president and his history of executive overreach."

"Well, I don’t trust him either," he said. "That’s why I support this bill. Without it, he can negotiate anything he wants. Trade Promotion Authority binds him to the will of Congress before the agreement is reached."

McClintock adds: "I’m particularly concerned about illegal immigration. This bill forbids the president from making any changes to our laws, including our immigration laws."

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