Heavy-hitting progressive groups have sent a letter to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, urging her to make “a clear, public, and unequivocal statement opposing any vote on the disastrous Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in the post-election, ‘lame-duck’ session of Congress.”

“Allowing a lame-duck vote would be a tacit admission that corporate interests matter more than the will of the people, relying on members of Congress who will be less accountable to voters.”

The letter, also published at Medium, says Clinton’s “continued leadership is sadly necessary as President [Barack] Obama refuses to abandon this unpopular deal.”

Even as the White House gears up for an all-out, post-election push on the maligned 12-nation trade deal, “the American public and their elected representatives in both parties are increasingly coming to the conclusion that the TPP puts corporations ahead of human needs on jobs and wages, human rights, access to medicine, climate change and more,” wrote the signatories, including environmental group 350 Action, the Communications Workers of America union, and grassroots political organization Democracy for America.

“In the face of such opposition,” they continued, “allowing a lame-duck vote would be a tacit admission that corporate interests matter more than the will of the people, relying on members of Congress who will be less accountable to voters. Regardless of the outcome, a vote itself would send an unmistakable signal that the game is rigged in favor of elites and against everyday Americans.”

To that end, the groups demand Clinton “immediately make a clear and strong public statement” against the vote. 

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