The Hill posted a story today about a bi-partisan group in the House of Representatives who have sponsored a bill stating that all trade deals would have to be made publicly available for 60 days before they could be approved using fast-track authority.

The article reports:

“Today it [trade promotion authority (TPA)] has become more of a blank check for the executive and turned Congress into little more than a rubber stamp,” Kaptur said. “This legislation calls for an end to this dangerous and irresponsible approach and replaces it with sunlight in the form of public access and accountability.”

The House is expected to vote on fast-track as early as Thursday, and opponents have argued that the administration is not providing enough transparency on the deals it is negotiating. 

Members of Congress have only been allowed to review text of the emerging Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal in a classified setting. 

Congress has a role to play in reviewing trade deals and treaties. The U.S. Constitution includes that review in its list of Congressional duties. It really is time those in power in Washington began to follow the U.S. Constitution.