"TPP" not Dead: House Rejected "TAA" but Will Vote Again Next Week --(Obama to Lobby Over Weekend)

[KoKo]

(Looks like the New Democrats Chairman, Ron Kind, is threatening that if they fail to pass "TAA" that Worker's Compensation for the lost jobs will not be included in the final Trade Deal...so they better pass it while they have the chance. (down at the last paragraph of the article)

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The House plans to reconsider TAA next week, giving Obama the weekend to lobby Democrats in hopes of saving the package. Passage of TAA was necessary to advance TPA, which would fast-track a potential 12-nation trade deal with Pacific countries.

Members voted 219-211 on TPA after sinking TAA. They both must pass in order to be cleared for the president’s signature.

If TAA doesn’t pass the second time around, there are more questions than answers on what happens next.

The procedural hurdles to bring TPA back to the floor are significant and unwieldy, but because there are currently the votes to pass that component of the trade package — as members saw Friday — GOP leaders will likely work to find a way to move it along in the days ahead.

One thing is certain, Democrats and Republicans alike warned anti-TPA crusaders in advance of the showdown Friday: Let TAA sink at your own peril.


“For our caucus now to draw the line on something that to our core we’ve always believed in, and that’s giving people a hand up when they are down, and that’s what TAA has always been about, is making sure that when you are affected by globalization forces that are beyond your control, there will be programs there to help you up,” said Rep. Ron Kind, the chairman of the moderate New Democrat Coalition who has been a liaison between the White House and pro-trade Democrats in the absence of Democratic leadership taking a proactive whip role in advance of the vote.

“Now, for us as a party to threaten to bring that down and face the risk that we will lose it in its entirety in the future, because the other side won’t bring it up again — we would own that fact as a party,” the Wisconsin Democrat said.

“I’ll give you a scenario,” Kind continued, growing more animated. “If this goes down, I think the administration continues to go forward to negotiate a [Trans-Pacific Partnership] agreement. It will be a much worse agreement than if he gets this authority, and chances of it passing are probably slimmer than they would if he had the authority. I’ll also guarantee you this: TAA goes away. And there’s no scenario on bringing that back again and I hope my colleagues are thinking through this a little bit because that’s what’s at stake right now.”

http://blogs.rollcall.com/218/rebuffing-obama-pelosi-democrats-scuttle-trade-deal/?dcz=

[KoKo]

1. White House Spokeperson, Josh Earnest, calls it a "Procedural Snafu" and says they Will Continue...

Politics: White House
White House calls trade defeat 'procedural snafu'

The White House put the best positive spin on a staggering House Democratic rejection of the President Obama's trade agenda Friday, by calling the resounding defeat of a trade assistance bill a "legislative procedural snafu" that can be overcome, and hailing a bipartisan majority on the "Fast Track" trade bill as a victory that over-performed expectations.

"I feel a little like Yogi Berra," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters after the surprisingly lopsided defeat on the trade adjustment assistance bill. "I'm tempted to say that it's deja-vu all over again."

On May 12, Earnest said, he faced the press after Senate Democrats initially blocked Trade Promotion Authority for the president on a procedural motion but then the Senate came back and passed it later.

"We're seeing a similar dynamic in the House right now," Earnest said.

"To the surprise of a very few, another procedural snafu" happened today, Earnest said.

Earnest then made another big pitch for passing trade adjustment assistance next week when the House brings it up again for a re-vote.

"The president is the president of the U.S. today because of his commitment to fight for working class families," Earnest said.

"If we're going to walk the walk for those progressive values, then it's critical to come together for TAA," he said.

"Now we're going to make the case to them that they should support a policy that they strongly supported in the past," he said. "If they don't they are going to see that priority lapse."

When it comes to the broader trade promotion authority vote that passed with strong bipartisan support, Earnest said 28 Democrats ended up backing the measure.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/white-house-calls-trade-defeat-procedural-snafu/article/2566158

[kentuck]

2. Well, hell! Sounds like a threat to me?

When you lose your job, there won't be any Workmen's Comp there for you? Go to hell, you SOBs!
Don't vote to lose the damn jobs in the first place!

[KoKo]

3. I know...couldn't be clearer....THE THREAT!

UGH!