The House of Representatives on Friday delivered a blow, though perhaps a temporary one, to President Barack Obama’s signature goal of strengthening ties with Asia when it defeated one measure, but approved another important to finishing a Pacific Rim trade pact.
In a dramatic vote, Obama’s own Democrats, as well as Republicans, failed to produce enough support to approve a bill that would have given aid to workers who lose their jobs as a result of U.S. trade deals with other countries. The measure was soundly rejected in a 302-126 vote.
That was quickly followed by the House’s narrow approval of a separate measure to give Obama “fast-track” authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. But the legislation is stuck in the House because of the defeat Obama and House Speaker John Boehner suffered on the first vote.
A House Republican aide told reporters that Republican leaders hope to try again Tuesday to pass the worker aid portion of the bill, allowing the measure to be signed into law by Obama, but its chances were unclear.
Trading partners such as Japan have urged the U.S. Congress to act in order to help wrap up a Pacific Rim trade deal covering 40 percent of the world’s economy.
Obama had lobbied hard to win over skeptical Democrats and forged an unusual alliance with the Republicans who control Congress and made a last-ditch personal appeal to congressional Democrats to back his trade agenda on Friday.
Hours before divided lawmakers were due to vote on legislation central to his hallmark Pacific Rim trade deal, Obama arrived at Capitol Hill with Labor Secretary Thomas Perez for the culmination of an intense effort to build support among Democrats over the last 24 hours.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/12/us-usa-trade-idUSKBN0OS0CC20150612
Pelosi is happy for some reason. This scares me.
It should.
It scares me to. They’ll reword it to their advantage and pass it next time. They’ll line there pockets and take even the lint out of ours.
“In a dramatic vote, Obama’s own Democrats, as well as Republicans, failed to produce enough support to approve a bill that would have given aid to workers who lose their jobs as a result of U.S. trade deals with other countries. The measure was soundly rejected in a 302-126 vote”
So it didn’t pass because the bill wouldn’t allow “aid to workers who lose their jobs”? Basically saying they are willing to send jobs out of this country once again as long as the displaced American nationals get some government cheese? Who the heck is going to pay for that? Blatant communism!
People, This is nothing more than theater for the masses. tpp has already passed just as they did with nafta.
These psychopaths want to look like “you” are in their best interest so that they can continue this charade (amerikan democracy), live lavish lifestyles (on your dime), and laugh at you behind closed doors. They do nothing, it’s all bs.
“Trading partners such as Japan have urged the U.S. Congress to act in order to help wrap up a Pacific Rim trade deal covering 40 percent of the world’s economy.”
40%?
I’d venture that makes it inevitable, then.