Public, some Dems cool on fast track; Boehner all in; China may join TPP
PUBLIC AGAINST FAST TRACK
NYT poll shows voters “skeptical of free trade”:
“Nearly two-thirds favored some form of trade restrictions, and more than half opposed giving the president [fast track] authority…”
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/04/business/inequality-a-major-issue-for-americans-times-cbs-poll-finds.html?referrer=
Boehner-friendly PAC spending $1M on fast track ads. Politico:
“The TV advertisement blasts Democrats and trade unions for opposing the bill, and says if Congress doesn’t pass trade promotion authority, China will benefit and America will lose. It’s meant to bolster House GOP leadership’s efforts by giving air cover to Republicans vote for TPA.”
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/john-boehner-aligned-group-plans-1m-ad-blitz-for-trade-bill-118617.html
Obama says trade deal will produce “a lot more winners than losers” in Marketplace interview. W. Post:
“…Obama did not specify which industries would be harmed by the trade deal … ‘It may be that as a consequence of the trade deal, there are particular markets, there are particular niche parts of the economy, where we’ve got to provide help to transition [workers]’ …”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/06/03/obama-on-trade-deal-a-lot-more-winners-than-losers/?wprss=rss_congress
Obama also says China may want to join TPP. Time:
“…Obama said China had been ‘putting out feelers’ to join [TPP] … China is not one of the 11 countries involved and Obama has often said the deal itself is necessary to keep China … from writing the rules on trade in the Asia-Pacific region.”
http://time.com/3908381/barack-obama-china-trans-pacific-partnership/
“Obama’s trust-me approach falls flat with Democrats” reports The Hill:
“Democrats — even some of Obama’s closest allies — say it’s not enough for the president to pronounce his trade agenda the most progressive in history. The lawmakers want assurances that the agreements under negotiation, particularly a huge deal being finalized with Pacific Rim nations, will protect U.S. jobs — assurances many say they simply haven’t gotten.”
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/243969-obamas-trust-me-approach-fall-flat-with-dems
One more House Dem backs fast track. CT Mirror:
“Rep. Jim Himes, targeted as a key swing vote, has decided to back President Obama … The decision provoked a strong reaction from the Connecticut AFL-CIO … Himes said the fact that Connecticut is an exporting state helped him make up his mind.”
http://ctmirror.org/2015/06/03/himes-says-hell-side-with-obama-on-pacific-trade-deal-vote/
