Senate Hands a Victory to Obama on Trade Pact [View all]

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday narrowly voted to end debate on legislation granting President Obama enhanced negotiating powers to complete a major Pacific trade accord, virtually ensuring final passage on Wednesday of Mr. Obama’s top legislative priority in his final years in office.

The procedural decision barely cleared the 60 votes needed — the tally was 60 to 37 — but final passage will need only 51 votes. It was the second time the Senate blocked a filibuster of the so-called trade promotion authority, but this time the bill was shorn of a measure to offer enhanced retraining and education assistance to workers displaced by international trade accords. That measure faces a crucial procedural vote on Wednesday as well.

Passage of a stand-alone trade promotion bill will put pressure on House Democrats. Earlier this month, they brought down the worker aid provision when it was legislatively linked to the trade-negotiating legislation, believing that the maneuver would torpedo the entire trade package.

But Republican leaders — with the White House’s support — found a parliamentary way to corner the Democrats by separating the two pieces of the bill. By Wednesday evening, legislation will most likely be on the president’s desk giving him the power to complete the trade accord, the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, knowing Congress could not amend or filibuster the final agreement. He can sign it whether or not the House passes worker dislocation assistance, which is scheduled to come to a vote on Friday.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/us/politics/senate-vote-on-trade-bill.html