Pittsfield Passes Resolution to Oppose Trans-Pacific Partnership
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield wants nothing to do with the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night on a resolution opposing the international trade agreement bartered by a dozen countries. The resolution urges the federal delegation — most of whom already oppose it — to vote down the agreement.
"We have the opportunity to send a message to our representatives in Congress that we oppose it," Councilor at Large Peter White, who penned the petition with Ward 6 Councilor John Krol, said. "We need to make sure our delegation in Washington is doing their part to help us in job creation."
The opponents of the deal call it "disastrous" for the economy, the environment, and health. Resident Kathy Lloyd urged the council to oppose the agreement saying it will pave that way for more companies to outsource jobs — the same manufacturing jobs city officials are hoping to create.
"These free trade agreements are the same type of agreements which in the past have devastated our city," Lloyd said.
Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi pointed to the loss of General Electric and the paper mills in Lee as to what happens when more jobs are shipped overseas and the city "can't afford" any more job lose. Brian Bissel says the agreement rewards companies for shipping jobs overseas.
"It is very much a Pittsfield story. It is not just an international trade agreement," Bissel said, echoing some of those who spoke of Pittsfield's past of job lose.
Proponents of the agreement say the United States will reap the benefits of billions being pumped into the economy. The agreement has a number of provisions but overall the goal is to eliminate tariffs among the dozen countries.
Pittsfield Resident Sheila Irvin, however, compared those promises to the North American Free Trade Agreement and said ultimately the country saw an increase in "low-wage" jobs while the manufacturing went elsewhere.
Congress has already approved giving President Barack Obama "fast track" authority to move the agreement, which has been a decade in the making, along. Both Massachusetts senators, Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, voted against that authority. Congress will only be given the authority to vote yes or no on the agreement.
So far, Warren and Markey have made their stance known while U.S. Rep. Richard Neal has been critical of the agreement but hasn't specifically said he'd vote it down. Russell Freedman, president of Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, said Massachusetts' entire delegation has made their positions known except for Neal, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, and U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy.
In Pittsfield, the concerns were solely focused on the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs. Linda Morris Kelley is particularly concerned that the provisions allow a company to sue a government over the agreement. She added that provision could "gut the regulations" in place on the local level.
"The corporations will be able to complain and sue local government. But, we the people will have no recourse whatsoever if we get injured or our health gets harmed," Kelley said.
She is concerned that about the pharmaceutical industry in that drugs that don't pass the United States' safety regulations will hit the marketplace. She's worried that there won't be the regulations on food safety. And she's worried that the copy write laws on intellectual property favor large corporations, who can then drive up prices.
"I don't see where we can have an agreement that lets corporations decide over the rule of law," said resident Ray Alt. "I support fair trade, not free trade."
Ward 3 Councilor Nicholas Caccamo said the trade agreement could hinder access and development to drugs. He said the copy write laws will allow companies to secure a medication and then drive up the price. It will also restrict the development of generics so that the "name brand prices" remain.
Krol joined the chorus particularly about the environmental laws that could be overridden, pharmaceutical costs, and food safety. He says there needs to be some laws to protect the environment and people's health.
Frank Farkas said the TPP has only "vague standards" for environmental standards and does not address climate change. He took a phrase from Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders in saying "the TPP would be one more instance of the race to the bottom."
Tags: Congress, council resolution,
