TPP a corporate coup

No reasonable citizen is opposed to international trade. However, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) contains a poison pill called Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) that will have the power to override the U.S. Constitution, overrule our duly enacted laws and even overturn Supreme Court decisions.

Negotiated in strictest secrecy, mainly by corporate lawyers, the TPP allows corporations to sue governments to compensate them not only for their actual costs and losses, resulting from laws or regulations, but also for their “projected loss of future profits.” Cases are tried in secret International tribunals composed of three corporate lawyers. When finding in favor of the corporation, the tribunal in effect overturns our democratically created laws and regulations. There is no limit on the amount of money corporations can seek to capture through this process. There is no review or appeal possible.

This will greatly discourage lawmakers and regulators from passing laws to protect local businesses, workers, the environment and our social fabric. Just the cost of defending these cases could bankrupt many smaller government entities, such as our states, counties and cities.

As Washington voters, we must demand that our senators oppose this corporate coup. Their votes could be decisive. Write them today!

Jim Lee

Spokane