In Big Victory for Obama, US Senate Approves Fast-Track Trade Bill
The president didn’t get help from Democrats Hirono and Schatz of Hawaii, who voted against the legislation. But Obama had the support of most Republicans.
The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to approve fast-track trade authority, “securing a big second-term legislative win for President Obama after a months-long struggle,” says The Hill.
Fast-track, also known as trade promotion authority, will allow the White House to send trade deals to the U.S. Congress for up-or-down votes.
Just two weeks ago it seemed that Obama was headed for defeat. Most of the members of his party opposed the trade deal, arguing that it will send American jobs overseas.
The north side of the White House.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
But some Democrats and many Republicans said the legislation was critical to counter the influence of China in the Asia-Pacific region.
Still, it was a close call.
On Tuesday the Senate agreed to end debate on the bill with the bare-minimum 60 votes necessary. Wednesday’s final vote was 60-to-38, with Democrats Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono on the losing end.
Later on Wednesday, senators gave approval in a voice vote to a bill that includes “trade preferences for African nations and a workers assistance program known as Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).”
The Hill says attention now goes toward “stopping the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal Obama is negotiating with 11 other Pacific Rim nations.”
