2015年4月22日星期三

Obama 'Fast Track' Trade Agenda Advances In Senate

President Barack Obama's trade agenda narrowly passed a primary Senate test late Wednesday, but a majority of fellow Democrats hope to trip him at home.

The Senate Finance Committee endorsed Obama's obtain "steps for success" legislation, which might renew presidential authority to present trade deals that Congress can endorse or reject however , not amend. When the House and Senate eventually comply, Obama may well ask them to approve the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, which involves Japan, Canada and Mexico, although not China. Other trade proposals could follow.

Liberals, labor unions and other groups bitterly oppose these trade measures, saying they might hurt U.S. jobs.

They lost a round Wednesday. The Finance Committee narrowly defeated a "currency manipulation" measure that Obama aides said would unravel the Pacific Rim deal. Votes for and against the provision were about evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, highlighting the unusual — and perchance tenuous — political alignments on trade.

The committee later voted 20-6 to secure the short track bill. The only committee Republican voting no was Sen. Richard Burr of New york.

Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said steps for success approval promises "high standard" trade deals sometime soon.

Your house dives to the debate Thursday, in the event the Methods Committee occupies similar steps for success legislation. The panel's top Democrat, Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan, opposes the Obama-backed version. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed Levin's alternative bill, even while Republicans warned the White House must bring a few dozen House Democrats aboard.

By contrast, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the Senate Finance Committee's top Democrat, backs the short track bill.

Few issues divide Democrats greater than trade. Obama, like former President Bill Clinton, supports free trade, but many Democratic lawmakers usually do not.

Clinton's and Obama's stands — and liberal groups' opposition — pose a dilemma for Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first kind first lady now seeking the presidency herself. Campaigning recently in New Hampshire, she declined to state whether she props up Pacific Rim proposal.

Rivals both in parties mocked her. But Obama seems planning to remain the main focus of great importance and ire, especially from fellow Democrats.

Obama says his Democratic opponents have their facts wrong. "We would stop accomplishing this trade deal only would not think it turned out beneficial to the middle class," he was quoted saying now. He said Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is among those "wrong" within the issue.

Warren responded which has a blog entry saying "the government does not want you to read this massive new trade agreement. It's top secret."

Obama with his fantastic trade allies reject such claims. They say steps for success and other trade proposals have been carefully negotiated and will undergo public scrutiny for months before final votes come about.

Their biggest scare Wednesday came when Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio urged the Finance Committee to direct U.S. trade officials to look at tougher stands against nations that allegedly keep their currency artificially low. The practice can boost exports by making local products inexpensive to foreigners. Economists disagree on whether China along with other nations embark on the practice.

National government officials said attempts to crack down on currency manipulation can backfire and ignite trade wars. I was told that Portman's proposal "could derail" the Pacific Rim negotiations. The Finance Committee rejected Portman's amendment, 15 to 11.

Senate Finance members added a broader currency manipulation amendment, by Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of recent York, to a customs bill. But Schumer would not offer it for the fast track bill, where it will have been more problematic for Obama. New Orleans asian escorts

The Finance Committee's actions Wednesday were delayed all day because liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., invoked an often-ignored Senate scheduling rule out protest. "This task-killing trade deal continues to be negotiated secretly," said Sanders, who made a lengthy Senate speech denouncing the legislation.

The trade debate turns towards House on Thursday. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., estimates that about 180 to 200 House Republicans will prefer fast track, as well as 15 to 30 Democrats. "Here is the president's initiative," Cole said. "He's going to have to work his side on the aisle pretty hard." escort New Orleans

The reduced end of Cole's estimate could leave Obama short of many inside 435-seat House.

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