Can President Obama get his “fast track” trade bill through Congress? The answer, a test of strength between Democrats and their leader, is up in the air ahead of Tuesday’s key Senate vote.
Republican and Democratic Senate aides are not sure whether there are enough Democratic votes to begin debate on the bill, which would give Obama expedited powers to approve trade deals.
“This is a test for the White House,” Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, told the Washington Examiner.
Most Republicans support at least moving the bill to the floor, where some would offer amendments.
But Democrats may block even that. The vote is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. They hate thwarting Obama but hate the trade bill, too, and called on Republicans to postpone the debate and turn to other legislation.
“We’re confident you’ll see a strong Republican vote tomorrow to move to TPA,” a top GOP Senate aide said Monday. “We hope the president can deliver members of his own party.”
Sen. Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and other Democrats say they don’t like the terms of the legislation, which they argue will grease unbalanced trade deals that help other countries but hurt American workers and the economy.
Democrats are at odds with Obama, who for once is allied with Republican leaders supporting the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in a floor speech Monday, criticized Democratic plans to try to block the bill.
“I think this is a mistake,” McConnell said. “Voting to proceed to a bill is a vote that says this is worthy of debate. Well, this bill is worthy of debate.”
The White House has intensified lobbying Democrats to the highest pitch since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, lawmakers told the Washington Examiner.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama has “been in frequent conversations with members of Congress, mostly Democrats, but some Republicans.”
Earnest called Democratic opposition to the trade bill, “reflexive.”
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, aim to stall consideration of the legislation.
They want provisions attached that would guard against currency manipulation and other violations by trade-pact nations.
They also demand inclusion of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which is up for renewal this year and allows sub-Saharan nations to export duty-free goods, including oil and clothing, to the U.S. It expires on Sept. 30.
Republicans said that to lure Democratic votes they will only include a Trade Adjustment Act provision that aids workers who lose their jobs because a trade deal increases imports.
Reid and other Democrats, in floor speeches Monday, called on McConnell to ditch the trade bill and take up a measure dealing with the controversial National Security Agency surveillance program and legislation authorizing long-term highway spending.
“With a few days before the Memorial Day recess, I’m disturbed and distressed by the Republicans’ priorities,” Reid said.
