To the Editor:

Fast Track legislation that was prepared in secret by some 600 lobbyists of the largest transnational corporations will give permission for the passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). This legislation, often referred to as the North American Fair Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on steroids, is now before Congress.  

On May 12 the Senate voted to deny debate on the proposed legislation but advocates (including Obama) insist that it be brought back to the floor. The House has yet to take action. NAFTA was a job and economy killer and the TPP is much worse. This bi-partisan effort to bring more grief to the working people of this country must be stopped.

Reuters reports (blogs.reuters.com-/great-debate/2015/02/16/as-free-trade-pacts-expand-u-s-trade-deficit-soars-why-add-one-more/) that over “5 million U.S. manufacturing jobs — one in four — have been lost since NAFTA and other post-NAFTA expansion deals, all enacted through fast track.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports www.bls.gov/news.-release/disp.t07) that three out of five displaced workers who were fortunate enough to find new employment earn less money now than before NAFTA. A full one-third of displaced workers took pay cuts of 20 percent or more.

Sen. Tom Tillis, R-N.C., and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., voted yea for the fast track legislation. From all indications, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, is in support. If this legislation passes it will give President Obama unfettered authority without full congressional approval to unilaterally enter into the TPP and other similar trade agreements. It is time that we the people have our voices heard.  Please contact your representatives via phone, email, and letter. Let them know that the TPP is bad for local business, bad for jobs, and bad for our economy. Ask them to vote No on fast track authorization. 

Allen Lomax

Sylva