House revives Obama’s trade agenda, but Senate vote awaits

Working closely with the White House, the Republican-controlled House revived President Barack Obama’s trade agenda on Thursday, voting to strengthen his hand in global negotiations and clearing the way for a showdown in the Senate. The 218-208 vote marked the first step in a bipartisan rescue operation mounted in the week since labor-backed Democrats in the House rebelled against the president and derailed the legislation he is seeking to pass. Additionally, a companion bill to provide federal aid for workers harmed by imports awaits action in both houses in the coming days. Democrats have fought the legislation, as they have for months, for fear that it would lead to the loss of U.S. jobs.

Let’s kill this donkey once and for all.

Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md.

The vote was close, but not suspenseful, to give Obama the ability to approve trade deals that Congress can accept or reject, but not change. Other recent presidents have exercised the same prerogative Obama seeks, known as “fast-track." Even so, obstacles remain to the completion of a plan that Obama, Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hope will send two bills to the White House by the end of next week. The next test comes in the Senate. The support of a dozen or so pro-trade Democrats will be required to approve the stand-alone measure to enhance Obama’s negotiating authority. Meanwhile, it will not be known for certain that the aid for displaced workers will also make it to the president’s desk.