Freshmen Democratic Senators want a say on “Fast-track”

The new Democratic Senators, who ran and won on economic populism in 2006, are demanding a say in the discussions about the pending renewal of fast-track legislation.  The freshmen know first-hand the resonance of trade-related issues among the electorate -- and they intend to make their positions clear to Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT):

"Years of job-killing trade agreements are taking their toll on workers and small business owners alike," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat.

Brown and other so-called freshmen senators -- who were elected to the Senate for the first time last year -- ran campaigns that called for major changes in U.S. trade policy.

They have asked for a meeting with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, to help craft a new direction for trade that gives Congress more control over pacts.

Baucus's committee is responsible for trade legislation. Other freshmen who requested the meeting include Sens. Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, Robert Casey of Pennsylvania, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Bernard Sanders of Vermont and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

Trade issues matter to voters.  The candidates, now Senators, who ran and won in 2006, know that.  Their colleagues are going to have to know it, too. 

Posted by Staff on Tuesday, March 13 | Permalink