Sen. Brown Pledges to Obstruct Lago Nomination Over TPP Transparency
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, will block the nomination of Marisa Lago for deputy U.S. Trade Representative on the Senate floor over USTR’s failure to provide Trans-Pacific Partnership text to congressional staffers with “requisite security clearances,” Brown said on Aug. 14.…
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A statement released by his office said Brown threatened to prevent a vote on the nomination unless USTR officials provided that clearance by Aug. 14. “The administration would rather sacrifice a nominee for a key post than improve transparency of the largest trade agreement ever negotiated,” Brown said (here). “This deal could affect more the 40 percent of our global economy, but even seasoned policy advisors with the requisite security clearance can’t review text without being accompanied by a member of Congress. It shouldn’t be easier for multinational corporations to get their hands on trade text than for public servants looking out for American workers and American manufacturers.” USTR didn't respond for comment. The Senate Finance Committee, of which Brown is a member, approved the Lago nomination (see 1508050057).