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The Student News Site of Mountain Vista High School

VistaNow

The Student News Site of Mountain Vista High School

VistaNow

Colorado Citizens Protest on 16th Street Mall

Colorado citizens have taken to the streets in rage to protest Congress and President Barack 20150418_130802Obama over the possible reinstatement of the controversial Fast Track Negotiating Authority.

Fast track, also known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), is the authority of the President of the United States to negotiate international agreements that Congress can approve or disapprove but cannot amend or filibuster.

“The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014,” introduced by Senator Max 20150418_130718Baucus and Congressman Dave Camp, seeks to reauthorize TPA and has been officially introduced in Congress.

Obama has said that if it is passed in Congress, he will sign the bill.

However, many citizens are unhappy with the bill and have begun protesting on 16th street mall.

With megaphones and signs in hand, the protesters are giving out papers with information on the issue and are chanting their disapproval, using sayings like “Hey Congress, guess what? We’ll kick Fast Track in the butt.”

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Cathey Blake

In addition to the power it would give Obama, protesters take issue with the possibility that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could be passed because of Fast Tack.

The TPP is an international trade and investment pact being negotiated by the U.S with other countries.

The protesters, such as Cathey Blake, claim the TPP could be disastrous, especially if Fast Track is passed.

“If corporations want to make a profit by destroying the environment, they can do it or have tax payers pay for their losses if this is passed,” Cathey Blake said.

Protest organizer Laura Avent is advising Coloradans to write to and phone their senators to stop Fast Track.

“Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner have not said that they are going to oppose this bill,” Avent said. “We need to let them know that if they don’t oppose this, we will oppose them.”

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Laura Avent

 

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