Voters in Washington state oppose Fast Track, poll finds

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8, 2015) — New polling of voters in 16 congressional districts released Thursday — including three in Washington state — finds significant public opposition in every single district to granting “Fast Track” Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The new polling by Lake Research Partners also finds that voters in these districts predominantly believe that trade agreements such as the TPP lead to job losses, rather than job gains, in the United States.

In Rep. Suzan DelBene’s 1st CD, voters opposed Fast Track by 18 points, with 54 percent opposed and 36 percent supporting. In Rep. Derek Kilmer’s 6th CD, it was opposed by a 14-point margin (50 to 36) and in Rep. Denny Heck’s 10th CD, voters oppose Fast Track by a whopping 22 points (57 to 35).

In addition, the polling found voters would be less likely to support their member of Congress if he or she voted to approve Fast Track. The polling memo in the 10th CD reported:

After hearing about fast track authority, nearly half (46%) of WA-10 of voters say they would be less likely to support their member of Congress if he were to support it, including almost a third of voters who would be much less likely to support their Congressman if he were to support the agreement. Only one third of voters say they would be more likely to support their representative.

Congress is likely to vote on Fast Track legislation in the near future. Granting such authority would mean that once negotiations on the TPP are complete, Congress would vote on the agreement as is, with no possible changes. The new polling is the latest reminder for the representatives from the 16 districts polled, most of whom have not yet taken a public position on fast track, why they should join the growing congressional ranks of opposition, according to the Coalition to Stop Fast Track.

“We’ve made the case to these members of Congress that Fast Track is bad policy. These polls make the case that Fast Track is bad politics,” said Jason Stanford, spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Fast Track.

Lake Research Partners conducted the polls on behalf of the Coalition to Stop Fast Track, which is made up of labor unions, environmental and consumer advocates, and other organizations working on the campaign to stop Congress from passing Fast Track. See the national polling summary.

Polling was conducted between April 21-26 in the following districts: CA-05 (Mike Thompson); CA-07 (Ami Bera); CA-35 (Norma Torres); CA-52 (Scott Peters); CA-53 (Susan Davis); CT-04 (Jim Himes); FL-02 (Gwen Graham); MD-05 (Steny Hoyer); MD-06 (John Delaney); NC-04 (David Price); NE-02 (Brad Ashford); OR-01 (Suzanne Bonamici); TX-20 (Joaquin Castro); WA-01 (DelBene); WA-06 (Kilmer); and WA-10 (Heck).

TAKE A STAND! — Call toll-free at 855-712-8441 to get patched through to your member of Congress and tell him/her: “I’m a constituent, and I want you to vote NO on Fast Track.”

ALSO at The Stand:

NO on Fast Track: Responding to your Representative’s response (May 5)

McDermott thanked for opposing Fast Track in committee vote (April 27)

Washington State Democrats: NO on Fast Track! (April 24)

WSLC’s Jeff Johnson: Stop the Fast Track to lower wages (April 16)