Posted on 12/11/2015 5:25:22 AM PST by GonzoII
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday crushed any hope that Congress could pass a sweeping Asia-Pacific trade agreement before the 2016 elections.
McConnell, who has expressed concerns about the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and has yet to take a stance, said President Obama is risking defeat of his signature trade deal if he tries to push for passage before a lame-duck session next year.
"It certainly shouldn't come before the election," McConnell told The Washington Post in an interview. "I think the president would be making a big mistake to try to have that voted on during the election. There's significant pushback all over the place," he said.
Obama is already facing a slim margin of support in each chamber.
With minimal support from his own party, Republicans who granted Obama fast-track authority on trade deals have said support didn't mean automatic passage for the TPP pact.
"I think it would be a big mistake to send it up before the election," McConnell said.
He also raised the specter that the deal may not get done before Obama leaves office, noting that the next president will have the same fast-track authority granted to Obama this summer.
"The next president, whoever that is, will have the authority to either revisit this one, if it doesn't pass, or finish the European deal or other deals, and give Congress a chance to weigh in on it," McConnell said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
But just what is he saying here? He’s saying he will use a lame duck session of congress to push through a piece of legislation so hated by the voters that they would vote out their Senators for doing so. Thus, he will wait until the lame duck session. I really loath McConnell.
BY all means, wait until AFTER the election so congressmen can vote while being less accountable to the people who they represent.
So, vote on it and kill it Mitch.
The GOP is always trying to “help” Obama instead of listening to the voters who put them there.
Regardless of the outcome in 2016, we need to replace the GOP lock, stock and barrel.
Yeah. And the Republicans have let him and his agenda get so out of control that he doesn't even have to hide it. And just watch.....the majority of US Senate Republicans won't even be offended or insulted.
Call Beohner and ask him if he has an opening in his foursome.
McC wouldn’t be putting it off until later unless he thought the political repercussions of passing it right now would be bad for his own bottom line or unless, be still my beating heart, he fears he couldn’t get it passed right now.
Raindear?
It looks like rain my dear.
it will pass after the lame duck session in 2016.
Bet on it.
Hopefully Pres Trump can kill the monster.
Again thank Cruz and Ryan for pushing thru this Trojan horse for there Rich owners !
The GOP has been destroyed by its establishment!
They wll be joining the Whigs.
Bet on it.
Yup. More Kabuki theater.
Of course he doesn’t want the TPP before 2016. It would be a disaster politically.
You hit the nail on the head. This POS should never have been reelected from his state again and along with Nevada for giving us the prior POS Reid, I loathe Kentucky for sending that chicken necked bas...ed back.
That's what WE want! Why is this turd trying to help Odumbo destroy the US?! Let him fail! Vote on the danged thing already and let it go down the crapper.
I just don't get it.
McConnell is a worthless POS! Just like the spending bill that passed during the lame duck after the 2014 elections, he’ll do it again, so no one can be held accountable.
Hah, ya left our Rubio. He’s part of that cabal.
It couldn't be put in more clear words.
No. What he's saying is that they'll pass it after the election in a lame duck session.
For once I agree with Mitch. There should be no vote on TPP until a new President hopefully Trump is in office. Trump will sink that stinker like the Bismark.
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