- Key companion bill rejected, part of a package needed to move fast track trade authority forward
- Boehner holds vote on fast track (TPA) anyway. Passes 219-211
- Recorded vote information
- Breitbart analysis – Ryan lied to fellow Republicans
- Jeff Sessions for President
The House narrowly passed the Obama enabling TPA but (what a convoluted mess) under the agreement with Nancy Pelosi, the vote could take place under “rules” such that Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) had to pass first before it could be advanced. As described by Fox News:
“TAA is a program near and dear to the hearts of many Democrats. It’s a method to cushion the blow for various workers and industries damaged by business reallocations in trade agreements .”
Even though it was their baby, Democrats had no problem aborting it in order to also kill TPA. Republicans generally opposed TAA as another giveaway, so it didn’t have much support from them anyway. Knowing the rules, Democrats essentially scuttled TAA and thereby TPA, for a few days anyway.
Boehner still held a vote on TPA which passed 219 to 211. It is a telling vote that will help focus the arm twisting especially by divergent Democrat camps. Obama will try to hold what Democrats he had and we presume union labor allies will turn up some heat to flip at least five of the Democrats who supported it. With the failure of TAA we would think they Labor Democrats will have the most potential so fast track could go down. Boehner will also have to apply heat to the Republican 54 who opposed TPA to try to make up for any Democrat votes lost. That is if we understand the dynamics correctly.
The three best articles we found as of this hour that explain what went on, some of the dynamics and what to expect are the following:
Fox News – Obama makes last-ditch plea to Dems ahead of showdown vote on trade
AP – House rejects Obama’s appeals and imperils his trade bill
Roll Call – Rebuffing Obama, Pelosi and Democrats Scuttle Trade Deal
TPA vote tally
Via Yahoo News, the vote tally on TPA was 219 for and 211 against. Support came from only 28 Democrats joining 191 Republicans. Opposition consisted of 157 Democrats and 54 Republicans. Of local interest, Iowans Blum, King and Young voted in favor of TPA for Obama. Loebsack and Bustos (IL) opposed TPA.
Republicans who were part of almost stopping Obamatrade enabling TPA included Congressman Dave Brat (VA) who defeated former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor for his seat in 2014. Other Republican stalwarts in support of checking Obamatrade included Gohmert (TX), Farenthold (TX), Bridenstine (OK), Amash (MI), Labrador ID), Yoho (FL) Hunter(CA) and Rohrabacher (CA).
Paul Ryan engaged in deception
Matthew Boyle a reporter/analyst at Breitbart wrote yesterday:
Jeff Sessions Issues Final ‘Critical Alert’: Obamatrade Just Like Amnesty, Obamacare
Referring to Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama’s communications, Boyle opens his column:
Sessions’ final “critical alert,” one of several he’s issued throughout the Obamatrade process, shows House Ways and Means Committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
60% has been engaged in deception as he attempts to guide Obamatrade’s passage through the House. Quoting Sessions:
“Promoters of fast-track executive authority have relied on semantic obfuscation in an effort to deny the obvious: the President’s top priority is obtaining fast-track authority because he knows it will expand his powers and allow him to cement his legacy through the formation of a new political and economic union,” Sessions said.
If, as promoters amazingly suggest, the President had more powers without fast-track, he would veto it. The authority granted in “Trade Promotion Authority” is authority transferred from Congress to the Executive and, ultimately, to international bureaucrats. The entire purpose of fast-track is for Congress to surrender its power to the Executive for six years. Legislative concessions include: control over the content of legislation, the power to fully consider that legislation on the floor, the power to keep debate open until Senate cloture is invoked, and the constitutional requirement that treaties receive a two-thirds vote. Legislation cannot even be amended.
Sessions makes four more key arguments against passage of TPA in his communique. It is a profound indictment of the credulity and shortsightedness of Republican support. As Boyle writes:
“one thing is absolutely certain: Pass or fail, Ryan’s credibility on the right is shot. What’s more, there’s likely to be a conservative grassroots rebellion against establishment Republicans in Washington that may dwarf the one Obamacare caused back in 2010.”
Read Boyles’ column. My conclusion — Jeff Sessions for President!
R Mall
This Democrat Congressman’s recount of their dear leader ascending to the hill for the last push makes me laugh out loud. What a guy you can work with! Now you see what Republicans have been dealing with since 2010?
“The President tried to both guilt people and impugn their integrity. I was insulted,” Rep. Peter Defazio, D-Oregon, told reporters after the meeting.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/12/politics/white-house-tpp-trade-deal-congress/