Ami Bera Faces Consequences for TPP Vote

California Democrat Rep. Ami Bera voted to "Fast Track" the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Now he's realizing that his vote has consequences.

Two local Democratic clubs in Bera's district (CA, 7th) voted not to endorse a 2016 election bid by Bera because he voted for Fast Track authority for the TPP, siding with big corporations and trade negotiators over the interests of working people in his district, and for other contentious votes.

"When you look at the votes and voting history, all public record, what the club members and delegates have found is that Dr. Bera is aligning himself with (House Speaker) Paul Ryan and (California Rep.) Tom McClintock, and less with the Democratic Party," said Robert Longer of Local 9421 and a member of the South County Democratic Club.

CWA pledged to hold members of Congress accountable for their votes. That's exactly what's happening to Rep. Bera and others.

In the 2012 and 2014 elections, CWAers backed Bera's successful campaigns for a swing congressional seat in Sacramento. CWA activists knocked on doors, volunteered at phone banks and joined forces with other labor unions to help in voter turnout and get Bera over the top.

In the months leading up to Bera's vote on fast track, grassroots activists and union members told Bera that TPP would be a bad deal for U.S. workers. They picketed and wrote letters describing how this secretive trade deal would move jobs overseas, weaken environmental standards and harm communities. Demonstrators occupied his office. And in one memorable action, dozens of workers, environmental activists and veterans marched through Bera's district carrying giant Q-Tips, urging Bera to "clean out his ears."