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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUgh. Boehner and McConnell Hatch a Plan To Push the President's Trade Agenda Through
Congress.
House Speaker John Boehner and Republican leaders are moving to revive President Barack Obamas beleaguered trade agenda with an elaborate procedural workaround that was quickly greeted with skepticism among some Democrats.
Under the emerging plan, the House would vote on a bill that would give Obama fast-track authority to negotiate a sweeping trade deal with Pacific Rim countries, sending it to the Senate for final approval. To alleviate Democratic concerns, the Senate then would amend a separate bill on trade preferences to include Trade Adjustment Assistance, a worker aid program that Republicans oppose but that House Democrats have blocked to gain leverage in the negotiations over fast-track.
The leaders behind-the-scenes machinations are an attempt to allow both bills TAA and the fast-track measure known as Trade Promotion Authority to move to Obamas desk separately, sidestepping the objections of House Democrats that stalled the package last week. The idea, which has been discussed among top congressional leaders and the White House, would be tantamount to a dare to pro-trade Democrats in both chambers to vote it down.
The plans are fluid and could change. But multiple congressional leaders, speaking anonymously to candidly describe their strategy, said they felt this was the only hope to reverse the trade packages flagging fortunes.
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Across the Capitol, however, some pro-trade Senate Democrats were wary. Their concern is that fast-track trade authority would pass both chambers of Congress, but that the Republican House would then reject TAA. The aid program for workers who lose their jobs to trade has been the asking price for many Democrats and even some Republicans to back Obamas free trade push.
Its highly unlikely I can support TPA without TAA, said Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, one of the staunchest Democratic supporters of the trade package.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/boehner-mcconnell-hatch-trade-workaround-119083.html#ixzz3dMHpUE9V
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)And my unswerving contempt for any politician who votes for, shills for, or worked on any of the "trade" agreements. No votes, ever. If DINO's act as Republicans, they can fucking right well get GOP votes in elections. Not mine.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Now the Staffers are shopping for members who will vote for and take a hit with a new job as a Lobbyist. These things are predicated on who can stand or be thrown out of office in the new election cycle. Mr. Obama and his friends are building Legacy's here. Fromm strikes again.