Posted on 05/22/2015 6:53:25 PM PDT by Beave Meister
President Obama won a big victory for his trade agenda Friday with the Senate’s approval of fast-track legislation that could make it easier for him to complete a wide-ranging trade deal that would include 11 Pacific Rim nations.
A coalition of nearly 50 Senate Republicans and more than 10 Democrats voted for Trade Promotion Authority late Friday, sending the legislation to the House for a difficult fight as Obama faces more entrenched opposition from Democrats.
The Senate coalition fought off several attempts by opponents to undermine the legislation, defeating amendments that were politically popular but potentially poisonous to Obama’s bid to secure the trade deal.
“This is an important bill, likely the most important bill we will pass this year. It’s important to President Obama,” Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and primary author of the bill, said at the close of debate.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Obama also made that promise 6 years ago.
Liars one and all.
Yep, but I think screwing around so much with the make-up of the US population might prove to be as unpredictable as some of our maneuvers in the Middle East. No way to know what might happen once some of these new influences begin to impact our politics in a major way.
FWIW, the libs at HuffingtonPuffington Post are all upset over this, as well. The comments are actually fun to read....one even said “this (trade deal) proves 0 is a stealth Republican”.
Gee....from the results, and with so many Dems against it, sounds like it was a Republican agenda to start with.
thanks for the laugh, I needed that : )
Time for a second party!
I can’t believe Cruz sold his soul to the devil! The GOP are despicable!
WSJ limits what you can read, without a subscription.
Here’s an excerpt of the Cruz/Ryan op-ed, that I read on another site...
.
Ryan and Cruz argue the current version of fast track address those concerns.
[B]efore anything becomes law, Congress gets the final say. The Constitution vests all legislative power in Congress. So TPA makes it clear that Congress—and only Congress—can change U.S. law. If the administration meets all the requirements, Congress will give the agreement an up-or-down vote. But if the administration fails, Congress can hit the brakes, cancel the vote and stop the agreement.
Trade-promotion authority will hold the administration accountable both to Congress and to the American people. Under TPA, any member of Congress will be able to read the negotiating text. Any member will be able to get a briefing from the U.S. trade representative’s office on the status of the negotiations—at any time. Any member will get to be a part of negotiating rounds. And most important, TPA will require the administration to post the full text of the agreement at least 60 days before completing the deal, so the American people can read it themselves.
Critics counter that Congress already has the power to reject deals and all Fast Track does is strip lawmakers of the ability to change the deal before passage.
Cruz voted yes
Rubio did not vote
Disappointed about Ted Cruz’s vote, but I’d like to hear his explanation first.
I don’t think there’s anyone I could vote for in the presidential election. Cruz and Rubio both supported TPP, although Rubio did not vote. I think he was fundraising. I wouldn’t vote for Christy if you put a gun to my head. Huckabee reminds me of a lecherous uncle. let’s be honest, the rest of the bunch are useless too.
” It’s important to President Obama,” Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and primary author of the bill, said at the close of debate.”
Oh, well. That’s different then.
Obamacare was also important to obama, but you voted against that. What happened between then and now?
KY may not be Norway but McC is Quisling for sure.
How many people on this thread voted for Ronald Reagan? NAFTA was his idea. As was a FTAA. And he was instrumental in the creation of the WTO.
The Republican party (including conservative Republicans) has supported free trade for decades, decades. The democrats, lead the labor union scum, are opposed. The GOP has been trying to pass fast track for 20 years. I continue to be mystified by the seeming surprise FR is showing at this. It’s more surprising that Obama is for this and that freepers are on the side of the AFL-CIO.
Dittos to that. I hope to heck Ted can explain his vote. ANYTHING Barry wanted as bad as this TPP nightmare CANNOT be good for America in ANY way!! Anyone heard any comments from Ted yet? I feel terrible but I’m still holding out some hope that Ted can fix this......somehow.....someway.
My favorites are the Trumka op-eds, and the FReeper “surprise” that they agree with him.
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