Just when we thought we had defeated "Fast Track" trade authority for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Senate Democratic "Leaders" are talking with Republicans desperately trying to put together a compromise package of related bills to make Fast Track more palatable to Democrats. Included in the package is a band aid worker assistance provision to soften the blow for American workers who are expected to be put out of work by the TPP Trade agreement, a currency manipulation measure, and a lowering of trade barriers to countries in Sub Saharan Africa.
Senate nearing deal to pass trade bills
By BURGESS EVERETT
Senate leaders are moving toward a deal on President Barack Obama’s trade initiative after a failed Tuesday vote prompted a furious round of negotiating on Wednesday.
The parties have been trading offers after Democrats rejected a fast-track trade bill on Tuesday. The latest bid from Republicans would give Democrats a chance to vote on several of their trade priorities as standalone bills, in addition to the fast-track measure.
The horse-trading and latest offers will be chewed over at party lunches and in private phone calls, with a deal possible by Wednesday afternoon.
“We’ll maybe have an announcement later today as to how we can move forward. We’re trying,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). “We’re getting close.”
Are you kidding me? Add a band aid and a few tweaks and this Frankenstein Trade Pact is ready for Democrats in the Senate to turn loose to savage the domestic job market and the global environment?
Back to the trenches!
Call Congress and demand they reject the T.P.P. Call 1-202-224-3121.
UPDATE
From The Hill:
Senate Dems float compromise after bucking Obama on trade
By Alexander Bolton and Vicki Needham
Obama met with a group of pro-trade Democrats at the White House Tuesday afternoon in an effort to secure their support. He sat down with Carper and Sens. Michael Bennet (Colo.), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Ben Cardin (Md.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Patty Murray (Wash.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Mark Warner (Va.) and Ron Wyden (Ore.), the senior Democrat on the Finance panel and co-author of fast-track legislation.
Lawmakers have pushed for several years to include currency manipulation provisions in trade deals that would increase the likelihood of penalties against trading partners engaging in the practice.
The Democratic leadership aide predicted a stand-alone currency manipulation bill would pass the Senate. The House would then decide whether to attach it to the larger trade package.
“It would then be up to the House,” said the aide. “It could be a condition of what people demand to vote for the trade package.”
The White House, leery of a possible trade dispute with China, has urged lawmakers not to attach currency manipulation language to fast-track authority. Many Republicans also oppose doing so.
Also see:
We Can Act on Global Warming or We Can Have TPP But We Can't Do Both