AP BIG story: Obama's trade agenda faces tougher odds heading into House [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

FILE - In this May 26, 2015 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. For all the near-death moments his trade agenda overcame in the Senate, President Barack Obama’s effort to cap his presidency with a major international commerce deal faces its biggest hurdle - and perhaps its graveyard - in the more polarized House of Representatives. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)


http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f23088c0d7c64bb0815bb30b676dd101/obamas-trade-agenda-faces-tougher-odds-heading-house

WASHINGTON (AP) — After several near death experiences in the Senate, the trade agenda that President Barack Obama is pushing as a second term capstone faces its biggest hurdle yet in the more polarized House.

Anti-trade forces have struggled to ignite public outrage over Obama's bid to enact new free-trade agreements, but Democratic opposition in Congress remains widespread.

The outcome may turn on Republicans' willingness to hand the president a major win in his final years in office. Underscoring the difficulties, House leaders are looking at the second or third week of June to schedule a vote, even though House members return from recess on Monday.

"The business of bill passing is a messy, sausage-making process. It was in the Senate, and it certainly will be in the House," White House communications director Jen Psaki said in an interview. "There will be many moments where there will be difficult issues. We have our eyes wide open with that."

FULL story at link.