President Obama faces yet more opposition from his own party on his economic agenda items, as House Democrats might balk at approving free trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama.
The Democratic caucus met with representatives from the White House and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations this morning ahead of votes on the agreements scheduled for this evening. “We’ve had a wonderful meeting . . . I think members are being very thoughtful in the decisions they make here today,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Calif. The AFL-CIO has run ads against the free trade agreements, saying that they will “make CEOs richer and ship our jobs away.”
Union opposition to the bill seems to resonate with the House Democrats. Although Rep. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said that,”yes,” some Democrats would support the agreements, Pelosi chose not to respond when asked if a majority of her caucus would back them.
Obama doesn’t need majority support from House Dems. In his press conference last week, the president touted the bill as one of the Republican “job creation ideas,” adding that “it’s great that we’re passing these free trade agreements.”
Although Republicans will likely guarantee the passage of all the free trade agreements, some Democrats seem more comfortable with two of the three. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-NY, said that she’s “still thinking it through,” even after the meeting this morning, “because [she’s] concerned about the treatment of labor leaders in Colombia.” She acknowledged that Obama has pushed these agreements, but dismissed the suggestion that the president might “corral” the Democratic minority.
“No [he won’t],” Lowey said, “because we’re a very independent caucus.”
