El Paso officials comment on TAA bill failure
This morning House voted against the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).
Without House backing the president the future of his trade package does not seem promising.
Hours before the voting occurred the Congressman Beto O’Rourke’s office had protestors outside.
These protestors were opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) because they did not want to see jobs leave El Paso.
The TAA played a vital role in the passing of the TPP because it would aid displaced workers.
TAA included segments from the U.S. Economy including communities, workers, farmers and firms. Without this security in place, it seems as though the voting will not be in favor of the TPP.
ABC 7 spoke with two people who were on opposite sides of the bill.
Former Mayor John Cook was originally in favor for the passing of the trade bill.
Cook said, “For the city of El Paso and Mexico this is actually probably a good thing for them because of all the trade we have between the U.S. And Mexico. We have 393 billion dollars of trade a year.”
UTEP professor Dr. Aurolyn Luykx was opposed to the trading bill from the beginning.
“We are very happy about the vote today, obviously, and it is clear the White House and the leaders of both parties are really trying to scramble and save this effort to ram through the top,” Luykx said.
